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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


•.'^jiATre^mi^a'me^-'.^sfr^ttfSl^-itttfi^Ji^rflf'^  r 


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Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographlques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  fUming  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


^ 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I — I    Covers  damaged/ 

I — I    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


Couverture  endommagie 

Covers  restored  and/or  la 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  pellicul6e 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


□    Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 

□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  othe   than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (I.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


D 
D 
D 


n 


D 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

a 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout^es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6X6  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6montaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  ddtalls 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-fttre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 

□   Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur6es  et/ou  pellicul6es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachet^es  ou  piqu6es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 


I — I    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/^ 
I — I    Pages  detached/ 


':■ 


D 
D 
D 
D 
D 


Showi:hrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  matdriel  suppldmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmdes  d  nouveau  de  fa^on  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  r6duction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

^^^^ 

30X 

^_^_ 

^_^_ 

I 

' 

1?X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

i 

itails 
i  du 
lodifier 
r  une 
Image 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  Congress 
Photoduplication  Service 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Library  of  Congress 
Photoduplication  Service 

Les  images  suivantes  o.it  6x6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  *a  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  filmd,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


93 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
berginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim^e  sont  film^s  en  commengant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film^s  en  commengant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbolc  — »-  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
fitm^s  r-i  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  1\\m6  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  k  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


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INTRODUCTION. 


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The  following  is  a  reprint  of  a  part  of  a  publication  by  Lee  and 
Shepard,  of  Boston,  in  i«47,  of  which  my  uncle,  Rev.  L,.  D.  Johnson, 
was  the  author. 

It  is  reprinted  now  for  tlie  use  of  the  descendants  of  James  Gibson, 
of  whom  there  are  four  families  living  in  Washington.  Our  grand- 
mother Thomazine  Elanchard  Johnson,  was  a  grand- daughter  of 
James  Gibson. 

Ju.stin  Winsor's  Memorial  History  of  Boston  mentions  him  twice 
in  connection  with  the  siege  of  Louisburg,  and  gives  him  credit  for 
promoting  the  adventure.  Drake's  History  of  the  siege,  printed  in 
1890,  makes  honorable  mention  of  him  as  a  tme  soldier,  and  speaks 
of  his  Journal,  a  copy  of  which  is  in  possession  of  the  American 
Historical  Association. 

JAMKS  BOWEN  JOHNSON, 

Howard  University, 

Washington  D.  C. 
Feb.,  1894. 


1 


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A 

BOSTON    MERCHANT 

OF   1745. 


James  Gibson  was  born  in  London  about  the  year  1 700,  and  be- 
lor.ged,  so  says  the  inscription  on  his  coat  of  arms,  "to  the  ancient 
and  honorable  family  of  Gibson,  of  Cumberland,  Kssox,  and  London," 
and  relative  of  Edward  Gibson,  the  eminent  antiquarian,  and  Bishop 
of  London. 

When  a  young  man,  he  held  acommision  in  the  royal  army,  which 
was  ordered  to  the  island  of  Barbadoes.  Here  he  remained  some 
time,  and  married  a  young  and  wealthy  widow,  in  the  month  of  Oc- 
tober, 1730.  The  original  of  the  following  certific  is  now  in  the 
hands  of  the  writer  ; 

"These  are  to  certify  to  whom  it  may  concern,  that  Mr.  James 
Gibson  and  Mrs.  Thomazine  Barton,  widow,  of  this  parish,  were 
joined  together  in  the  holy  state  of  matrimony,  according  to  the 
canons  of  the  Church  of  England,  on  the  30th  day  of  October,  1730. 

by  me, 

"Thomas  Warren,  Curate. 

"Barbadoes,  Parish  of  St.  Michael." 

Through  this  connection,  James  Gib.son  became  possessor  of  a 
large  plantatiou  in  the  island  of  Jamaica.  After  a  few  years,  he  re- 
tired from  his  situation  in  the  army,  and  remained  in  the  West 
Indies. 

Having  often  heard  of  the  new  colonies,  and  becoming  acquaint- 
ed with  merchants  who  visited  the  islands  for  the  purpose  of  trading, 
he  was  induced  to  come  to  New  England  with  his  lady;  and, 
being  pleased  with  the  thriving  appearance  of  the  northern  colonies, 
he  brought  his  wealth  and  family  to  Boston,  and  became  an  exten- 
sive trader  between  that  place  and  the  islands  of  Barbadoes  and 
Jamaica. 

Mr.  Gibson  was  also  a  stockholder  in  the  enterprise  of  building  long 


•  »' 


wharf,  and  iii1ia1)itccl  one  of  the  finest  IniildinKi  Ihun  to  he  .scc!i  on 
Beacon  Hill.*      He  had  hnt  one  chilrl,  a  danghter. 

In  the  year  !  7.}  J,  war  was  declared  I)etweeii  France  and  (Ireat 
Britain.  (George  II.  was  upon  the  throne,  and  Sir  William  Shirley, 
then  (iovernor  of  Ma.ssachnselts. 

The  news  reached  Cape  Hreton,  hy  u  fist  .sailing  packet,  three 
wcek.s  before  it  was  received  in  Boston  ;  and  this  allbrded  the  i'cencli 
a  fine  ojiportunity  of  niakiny  incursions  into  the  neighboring  province 
of  Nova  Scotia.  In  this  maimer,  Canso,  a  small  fishing  town,  was 
taken  by  surprise;  and  the  inhabitants,  and  a  large  nu'nber  of  vessels- 
were  captured,  and  taken  to  I,onis.bnrg,  as  jirisoners  of  war. 

The.se  early  attacks  awakened  the  Ivnglish  Colonies  to  their  dan- 
ger ;  and  it  soon  I)ecame  ai)pare!it  that  Nova  vScotia,  and  tKrhapsall 
the  ICiiglish  .settlements  in  Nortli  America,  depended  on  the  con- 
quest of  Loni.sl)urg,  the  strong  fortress  anri  capital  of  Ctijie  Breton. 

Some  of  the  colonist.s,  lunvevei,  in  defending  the  town  of  Anap- 
olis,  in  a  second  incursion  from  the  i-Vench,  obtained  some  jjrisoners, 
whom  they  exchanged  for  the  inhabitants  of  Canso,  taken  in  the 
spring,  and  who  brought  an  accurate  account  of  the  strength  of  the 
fortifications  of  Loui.sburg,  to  Boston. 

iM-om  this  account.  Sir  William  Shirley,  Governor  of  Massachu- 
setts, conceived  the  idea  of  taking  the  city  by  surprise,  before  any 
farther  aid  could  be  ol)tained  from  France.  In  this  he  was  encour- 
aged, particularly  by  those  who  were  engaged  in  the  cod  fisheries 
of  Ma.ssachusetts  and  New  Hampshire  ;  as  this  branch  of  trr.de  must 
be  utterly  suspended,  while  Loui.sl)urg  remained  in  the  hand,-;  of  the 
French . 

To  obtain  the  opinion  of  the  General  Court,  Sir  William  early  in 
January,  recjuested  its  members  to  bind  them.selves,  under  oath  of 
secrey,  to  receive  from  him  an  important  comnnniication.  This 
was  complied  with,  and  he  propo.sed  his  plan  of  attacking  I.,oui.sburg, 
and  a.sked  their  consent.  This  was  kept  a  secret  for  a  number  of 
days  from  the  public.  At  last  it  v.-as  discovered  by  uu  honest  deacon, 
whose  whole  soul  was  .so  filled  with  the  plan  of  the  expedition,  that 
he  inadvertently  made  mention  of  it  at  his  family  devotions,  by 


■"It  will  be  .s'jcn  by  referritig  to  the  Probate  records,  at  Boston,  that  the  atl- 
iiiinistrator  had  two  difleroiU  times  oT  icudeniig  an  invoice  01  Gibson's  eslat^:. 
In  one  of  tlieni  the  buildiu},'  iv.Vrndto  is  called  "Ihc  nian.sion  house  on  Beac- 
on Mill,  lio.ston."  Anioii.u,'  other  articles,  "a  bra.ss  sword  and  belt,  and  a  sil- 
ver snuli'-i)Ox,"  are  mentioned. 


I 


I>c  Koe'i  on 

and  (Ircat 
itn  Shirley, 

ckct,  throfi 
the  iMCMicli 

ug  province 
town,   was 

;r  of  vessels" 
■ar. 

'  llicir  (lan- 
?;^rhapsall 
n  the  con- 
e  Hreton. 
1  of  Anap- 
;;  prisoners, 
ken  in  the 
igth  of  the 

Massachu- 
bcfore  any 
as  eneour- 
id  fisheries 
tn-.de  must 
ind:-;  of  the 

n  early  in 
ler  oath  ol 
ion.  This 
IvOiiisburg, 
nuniljer  of 
.\st  deacon, 
lition,  that 
otions,   I)}- 

that  the  ad- 
sou's  cslate. 
.4se  oil  Bcac- 
l,  and  a  sil- 


praying  for  its  snccess.  The  lioldness  of  llie  proposal  astonished 
every  one.  It  was  referred  to  a  connnitlee,  who  reported  against  it. 
This  report,  after  some  debate,  was  accepted  hy  a  considcrahlc  in  i- 
jority,  and  it  was  snpp:)s?d  that  the  snhject  was  pnt  to  rest.  The 
Governor,  however,  wis  not  tlnis  to  he  defeated  ;  he  was  a  man  of 
jierseverance  as  well  ;is  decision.  James  (ii!)>'.i)n  he  knew  to  he  a 
man  of  we'ghty  character  as  well  as  weighty  purse. 

"After  a  few  days,".say.s  Mr.  Hibson,  "I  .saw  the  Governor  walk- 
ing slowly  down  King  vStreet,  with  his  head  bent  down,  as  if  in  deep 
stndy.  He  entered  my  connting  roo.n,  and  abruptly  said,  '(libson, 
do  yon  feel  like  giving  uj)  the  expedition  to  I.onisbnrg?'  'I  wish  the 
vote  miglit  be  reconsidered,'  was  my  rejily  ;  'I'or  unless  the  colonic:) 
make  a  bold  strike,  we  may  all  suffer  the  same  fate  of  Can.so  and 
Anai)olis.' 

" 'Vou  are  tlie  very  man  I  need,'  said  the  C'.overnor,  springing 
from  his  chair.  'I  have  been  thinking,  if  a  petition  were  drawn  up 
and  "gned  by  the  merchants  of  Ho.st.on,  asking  a  reconsideration  of 
the  whole  matter,  tjie  result  would  be  successful.'  " 

before  he  left,  .Sir  William  had  t)ie  jileasure  of  seeing  the  petition 
drawn  up  and  .signed  by  one  bold  man,  and  before  night  it  was 
ready  tor  presentation. 

The  next  day  it  was  road  in  the  General  Court,  and  another  com 
mittee  voted  a  reconsider  ition.  This  report  was  argued  two  whole 
days;  during  which  time,  its  advocates  presented  the  prospect  of 
success,  and  the  advantages  Massachu.setts  would  receive  from  it,  the 
importance  of  immediate  action,  and  the  certainty  that  they  would 
be  amjily  remunerated  by  Parliament,  when  it  was  known  to  his 
Majesty  what  proof  of  loyalty  his  American  subjects  had  given. 

On  the  other  .side,  it  was  argued  with  nmch  greater  plausibility, 
that  the  scheme  was  chimerical,  that  inexperienced  militia  could 
never  reduce  so  impregnable  a  fortress,  that  by  reason  of  fogs  and 
ice  the  island  could  not  be  approached  at  that  season  of  the  year,  that 
ihey  .should  incur  the  di.spleasure  of  Parliament  by  such  a  ra.sh  un- 
dertaking, that  the  ])rovince  was  exhau.sted  by  previous  campaigns, 
and  if  this  were  unsuccessful,  it  would  prove  its  utter  ruin.  The  ques- 
tion was  taken  on  the  26th  of  January,  and  the  expedition  was  voted 
by  a  majority  of  a  single  vote;  several  members  who  were  known 
to  be  opposed  being  absent.  No  sooner,  however,  was  this  done 
than  a  degree  of  unanimity  upon  the  .subject  generally  prevailed; 
and  those  who  had  previously  opposed  it,   like  tme  patriots,  came 


1 


forwnnt,  and  j;avc  tlicir  ai<l  iti  c:\rrytiijr  it  into  cfTcct.  Never  were 
a  pCDpIc  more  ciulmsiastic,  or  fnlt-rtaiiicd  stroiigL-r  hopes  of  success, 
thin  tlie  i)coi)k'  of  Mussacluisctls  at  that  time.  Letters  were  imine- 
dintcly  sent  to  Pennsylvania  and  otlier  colonies,  rc(|uestinx;  their 
assistance. 

(5ovcrnor  Shirley  soon  mride  ])roclamalion  for  raising  the  neces- 
sary forces;  and  tnca.siires  were  taken  for  equijipinj;  the  small  ileet 
then  owned  hy  the  i)rovince,  for  the  jnirjiose  of  conveying  the 
trooj.s.  The  Cioxernor  al.so  sent  to  the  Connnander  of  the  Mritish 
fleet  at  the  West  Indies,  reciuestiny  aid. 

The  island  of  Ca])e  Hreton,  on  which  I.onishurg  is  situated,  con- 
stitutes at  present  a  part  of  the  Province  of  Nova  Scotia.  It  is  of 
triangular  form,  and  eighty  leagues  in  circumference.  Its  western 
and  nortliern  sliores  are  steej),  rocky,  and  inaccessible:  while  its 
southeastern  is  indented  with  beautiful  bays  and  harbors,  safe  for 
shiiis  of  the  largest  size.  Its  .soil  is  barren,  and  a  large  portion  of 
the  \ear  the  island  is  either  enveloped  in  fog,  or  locked  u\>  with 
snow  and  ice.  Its  entire  i)()pu!ation,  at  the  present  time,  does  not 
exceed  30,000,  most  of  whom  are  engaged  in  the  fisheries,  and  in 
the  coal  and  lumber  trades. 

Louisburg  has  frequently  been  called  the  "Dunkirk  of  America." 
For  a  description  of  it,  I  use  the  words  of  Dr.  Hclknan.  "It  was  two 
miles  and  a  half  in  circumference,  fortified  in  every  accessible  point, 
with  a  rami)arl  of  stone,  from  thirty  to  thirty -.six  feet  high,  and  a 
ditch  eighty  feet  wide.  A  space  of  two  hundred  yards  was  left  with- 
out a  rami)art,  on  the  side  next  the  sea,  and  enclosed  by  a  simjde 
dike    ar.d   pickets.     The  vas  so  narrow  at  this  place,   that  it 

made  only  a  narrow  channel,  inaccessible,  from  its  immerous  reefs, 
to  any  shipping  whatever.  On  an  island,  at  the  entrance  of  the 
harbor  wliich  was  only  four  hundred  yards  wide,  was  a  battery  of 
thirty  camion;  and  at  the  bottom  of  the  harbor,  directly  oppo.site 
to  the  entrance,  was  the  ground,  or  royal  battery,  of  twenty-eight, 
forty-two,  and  eighteen  pound  cannon.  On  a  high  clift",  opposite 
the  i.sland  battery,  stood  the  light-hou.se:  and  at  the  northeast  part  of 
the  harbor  was  a  magazine  for  naval  stores. 

"The  town  was  regularly  laid  out  in  .squares.     The  streets  were 

broad,  and  the  houses  mostly  built  of  wood  and  stone.     The  entrance 

to  the  town  was  at  the  west  gate,  over  a  draw-bridge,  which  was 

protected  by  a  circular  battery  of  cannon. 

"These  works  had  been  twenty  five  years  in  building,  and,  though 


k 


Never  were 

i  of  success, 
were  iiiiine- 
estinji;  their 

the  tieces- 
siiKill  ilect 
A'eyiiig  the 
the   Hritish 

iiated,  cou- 
ia.  It  is  of 
Its  western 
::  while  its 
)rs,  safe  for 
!  portion  of 
ed  up  with 
e,  does  not 
ries,  and  in 

America." 
'It  was  two 
sible  point, 
ligh,  and  a 
IS  left  with- 
)y  a  sinij)le  « 
ce,  that  it 
erous  reefs, 
mcc  of  the 
I  battery  of 
ly  opposite 
enty-eight, 
fl",  opposite 
least  part  of 

Greets  were 
lie  entrance 
which  was 

md,  though  . 


; 


not  tiiiished,  had  cost  I'rancc  not  less  tlian  thirty  niillio:  ""^  llvrcs. 
It  was  in  peace  a  safe  retreat  for  the  I'rench  shij)s  hound  homcwant 
from  the  i'.ast  and  West  Indies'  and  in  war,  a  source  of  distress  to 
the  northern  I'jiglish  colonies,  its  siluation  being  extremely  favor 
able  for  privateers  to  seize  their  fishing  vessels,  and  interrupt  their 
coasting  and  foreign  trade,  for  which  reasons,  the  reduction  of  it  is 
said  to  have  been  as  desirable  an  object  as  that  of  Carthage  ever 
was  to  the  Uomans.  " 

vSuch  was  the  place  that  the  people  of  New  ICugland  proposed  to 
take  by  surprise  in  1745.  It  was,  perhaps,  as  impregnable  as  na- 
ture and  art  could  make  it,  and  was  probably  considered  as  safe  by 
France  then,  as  (iibraltar  is  by  the  l^nglish  at  the  present  day.  Its 
reduction  was  .suggested  and  accomjdished  by  a  train  of  circumstan- 
ces as  remarkable  as  the  event  was  glorious.  It  was  very  jiroperly 
said  by  a  writer  of  the  day,  that  "if,  in  this  expedition,  any  one 
circum.statice  had  taken  a  wrong  turn  on  the  I'reiich  side,  it  uuist 
have  miscarried." 

In  all  this  preparation,  James  Gibson  was  not  an  idle  spectator 
Seeing  the  diiViculty  of  raising  volunteers  from  the  poor  and  hard- 
workingmen  of  the  colony,  he  al.so  became  a  volunteer.  Already 
possessing  the  commission  of  cajjtain  of  the  royal  army,  he  actually 
hired  a  company  of  three  hundred  men,  whose  wages  he  paid 
regularly  from  his  own  property. 

Thus  four  thousand  men  were  raised  in  the  several  colonies.  The 
time  was  appointed  for  the  fleet  to  sail.  The  greatest  difliculty  to  be 
surmonted  was  the  appointment  of  a  commander  in -chief.  This 
was  attended  with  some  diff'culty,  as  they  were  raw  .soldiers,  tnken 
from  all  the  New  England  provinces,  and  feeling  in  some  degree  a 
jealousy  of  each  other.  The  choice  at  length  fell  upon  William 
Pepperell,  of  Kittery,  than  a  colonel  of  the  militia,  and  a  merchant 
of  good  reputation,  known  extensively  both  in  Massachusetts  and 
New  Hamp.shire. 

Before  accepting  the  appointment,  Pepperell  consulted  the  famous 
George  Whitfield,  who  was  then  travelling  through  New  Kugland, 
upon  its  expediency.  Whitfield  told  him  he  did  not  think  the  situa- 
tion very  promising  ;  that  the  eyes  of  all  would' be  upon  him  ;  that, 
if  it  should  not  succeed,  the  widows  and  orphans  of  the  .slain  would 
reproach  him  ;  and  if  it  .should  succeed,  many  would  regard  him 
with  envy,  and  endeavor  to  eclipse  his  glory  —  that  he  ought  there- 
fore to  go,  with  a  single  eye,  and  then  he  would   find  his  strength 


i'*, 


8 


proportioned  to  his  iiccessitj-.  After  some  time  he  j^^ave  a  motto  for 
the  Hag,  which  was  "Nil  desperandum,  Christo  duce"  thereby  giv- 
ing the  expedition  an  air  of  a  cnisade.  It  is  said  that  a  large 
nr.nilicr  of  the  followers  of  Whitfield  enlisted  :  and  as  a  proof  of  the 
religions  feeling  by  which  they  were  actnated,  one  of  them,  a 
clergyman,  carried  upon  his  shoulder  a  hatchet  for  the  ])urpose  of 
destroying  the  images  iu  the  I'rench  churches. 

Few  men  could  leave  their  familifs  under  more  trying  circumstan- 
ces than  James  Oibson.  Without  a  single  relative  in  North  America, 
nearer  than  the  West  Indies,  his  wife  was  to  endure  alone  the 
suspense  of  this  liazardous  and  doubtful  expedition,  and  remain 
behind  with  her  little  daughter  in  Hoston.  But,  in  the  midst  of 
present  trial  or  future  solicitude,  the  firm  hearts  of  the  colonists  did 
not  quail.  Under  these  eircum.stances,  on  the  :! 5th  of  March,  Mr. 
Gib.son  took  leave  of  liis  family,  of  his  tender  and  confiding  wife  and 
child,  and  joined  the  troops  which  on  that  day  left  Boston  for  the 
island  of  Nantucket,  the  rallying  point  of  the  expedition. 

The  fleet  sailed  from  Nantucket  with  4,300  men,  4,000  being  fur- 
nished by  the  colonies,  and  300  by  Mr.  Gi1)son.  After  a  prosperous 
voyage,  it  appeared  in  view  of  the  little  town  of  Can.so.  As  it  was 
yet  in  the  early  spring,  tie  ice  rendered  the  bay  impassable,  and  they 
were  thus  prevented  from  landing  at  the  intended  .point.  In  this 
hour  of  perplexity,  Connnodore  Warren,  the  connnar.der  of  the 
British  troops  at  the  West  Indies,  unexpectedly  arrived  with  a 
man-of-war,  to  their  assistance.  This  aid  inspired  the  army  with 
new  courage,  and  elated  them  with  a  prospect  of  success.  On  the 
29th  of  April,  the  ice  having  broken  up,  the  fleet  sailed  for  Louis- 
burg,  a  distance  of  about  sixty  miles,  where  the\  arrived  the  next 
morning. 

This  was  the  first  notice  to  the  inhabitants  of  Louisburg  of  the 
intended  invasion. 

\n  alarm  was  instantly  given,  and  our  fleet  was  ushered  into  the 
bay  by  a  ringing  of  bells  and  discharge  of  cannon.  A  detachment 
of  159  men  were  sent  to  oppo.se  their  landing,  but  were  soon  repulsed 
by  the  New  England ers,  who  without  further  molestation  landed 
their  troops  and  military  stores,  about  four  miles  below  the  city. 

On  the  following  night,  two  merchants  from  the  Colonies,  James 
Gibson  and  Captain  Vaughan,  with  400  men,  marched  through  the 
woods  and  round  the  hills,  to  the  northeastern  part  of  the  harbor, 
and  burned  many  large  warehouses  containing  a  quatnitj'  of  wine  and 
brandy,  making  a  fine  beacon  light. 


i;  gave  a  motto  for 
lice"  thereby  giv- 
said  that  a  large 
I  as  a  jircof  of  the 
,  one  of  them,  a 
ur   the    jnirpose  of 

trj-ing  circuinstan- 
in  North  America, 
endure  alone  the 
tion,  and  remain 
,  in  the  midst  of 
f  the  colonists  did 
h  of  March,  Mr 
confiding  '-.vife  and 
ft  Boston  for  the 
edition. 

n,  4,000  beuig  fur- 
\fter  a  prosperous 
Canso.  As  it  was 
ipassable,  and  they 
ed  point.  In  this 
onmiar.der  of  the 
ly  arrived  with  a 
red  the  army  with 
f  success.  On  the 
it  sailed  for  Louis- 
,   arrived  the  next 

[  Louisburg  of  the 

s  ushered  into  the 
in.  A  detachmen: 
A-ere  soon  rejiulsed 
iiolestation  landed 
below  the  city, 
e  Colonies,  James 
rched  through  the 
•art  of  the  harbor, 
Liatnitj'  of  wine  and 


This  siege  continued  forty-eight  days,  and  was  carried  on  by  un- 
disciplined colonists  against  a  well-trained  army,  and  a  fortification 
stronger  than  almost  any  in  the  world. 

Of  the  events  of  this  siege,  in  which  our  army  gamed  a  glorious 
triumph,  Mr.  Gibson  kept  a  regular  Journal,  which  was  published 
afterward  at  I^ondon,  and  a  copy  presented  to  King  George.  A  no- 
tice of  this  Journal  appeared  in  a  contemporary  number  of  the  "Gen- 
tleman's Magazine,"*  a  periodical  which  has  been  continued  for 
upward  of  200  years. 

This  Journal  has  never  been  reprinted  in  America.  After  search- 
ing through  the  principal  libraries  of  New  England,  we  are  certain 
that  few  persons  have  ever  seen  it  in  this  country. 

We  have  learned  of  late  that  societies  are  seeking  to  obtain  mere 
extended  information  respecting  this  expedition,  and  therefore  give 
this  Journal  entire  to  our  readers. 

*The  "Gentleman's  J.Tagaziue"  is  regarded  as  tlie  greatest  periodical  in  the 
English  language.  Copies  of  it,  for  nearly  two  hundred  years,  are  to  be  seen  in 
the  Boston  Athenaeum.  Several  notices  of  Gibson  and  his  Journal  are  to  be 
found  in  this  work.  The  one  alluded  to  above  is  in  the  15th  volume,  page  649. 

By  calling  on  S.  G.  Drake,  Esq.,  the  indefatigable  proprietor  of  the  Anti- 
quarian Bookstore  on  Cornhill,  the  reader  can  see  the  original  copy  of  the 
following  Journal. 


a 


'^i 


m 

a.) 


I 


I"  I 


A      ■ 
JOURNAL 

OP   THE 

LATE  SIEGE, 

BY   THE 

TROOPS  FROM  NORTH  AMERICA, 

AGAINST 

THE  FRENCH  AT  CAPE  BRETON,  THE  CITY  OF 

LOUISBURG,  AND  THE  TERRITORIES 

THEREUNTO  BELONGING. 

Surrendered  to  the  English,  on  the  17TH  of  June,  1745. 

AFTER   A   SIEGE  OF   FORTY-EIGHT   DAYS. 

BY  JAMES  GIBSON, 
GENTLEMA.S  VOLUNTEER  AT  THE  ABOVE  SIEGE. 


LONDON 
Printed  for  J.  Newbury,  at  the  RiblE  and  Sun, 
IN  St.  Paul's  Church-yard. 
MDCCXLV. 


'4-- 


[TY  OF 

:S 


June,  1745. 


JGE. 


D  Sun, 


si 


DKDICATION. 

TO  THE  COMMISSIONED  OEEICERS  OP  THE  TROOPS  AT  THE  LATE 
SIEGE  AGAINST  THE  CITY  OE  LOUISBURG,  AND  THE  TERRI- 
TORIES THEREUNTO   HELONGING   IN   NORTH    AMERICA. 

My  Dew    Brethren  and  Fellow  Soldiers  : 

Pursuant  to  your  request,  I  here  present  you  with  a  Journal  which 
I  kept  whilst  the  siege  was  laid  against  the  city  above  mentioned. 

If  it  should  contribute  in  the  least  to  your  pleasure  in  the  recollec- 
tion of  that  signal  victory  which  you  obtained,  by  the  blessing  of 
God,  through  your  great  courage  and  good  conduct,  over  your  ene- 
mies at  Cape  Breton,  or  be  of  service  to  you  in  any  other  respect 
whatever,  I  shall  not  think  my  labor  ill  bestowed. 

Gentlemen,  as  you  voluntarily  left  your  families,  your  fortrnes, 
your  occupations,  and  whatever  else  you  held  most  dear,  to  enter  the 
field  in  the  service  of  your  country  against  the  strongholds  of  a  po- 
tent enemy;  against  a  well-walled  and  against  a  well-garrisdned  city; 
against  strong  batteries,  in  short,  and  large  cannons,  I  heMtilj'  con- 
gratulate you  on  youi  good  success,  and  doubt  not  but  your  heroic 
achievements  will  be  transmitted  down  with  honor  to  latest  posterity. 

In  regard  to  the  poor  soldiers,  who  left  their  families  and  their  re- 
spective callings  for  no  other  consideration  than  fourteen  shillings 
sterling  per  month,  besides  the  prospect  of  a  little  plunder,  as  oc- 
casion offered,  of  which  they  were  disappointed, — I  hope  they  will 
be  taken  care  of,  and  meet  with  a  reward  in  some  measure  propor- 
tioned to  their  service  and  their  merit;  since  their  disappointment 
was  wholly  owing  (as  you  are  sensible)  to  our  generous  treatment 
of  the  enemy,  even  when  we  had  secured  our  conquest;  for,  by  the 
terms  of  capitulation,  the  French  were  not  only  allowed  to  carry  off 
all  their  effects  w-ithout  the  least  molestation,  but  were  transported 
at  our  expense  to  Old  France,  insomuch  that  the  soldiers,  as  I  be- 
fore hinted,  had  no  opportunity  of  making  any  advantage  of  their 
good  success,  which  otherwise  they  might  have  considerably  im- 
proved. 

The  place,  gentlemen,  which  we  have  thus  happily  made  our 
own,  may  with  propriet3'  be  called  the  key  of  Canada  and  North 
America.    The  island  is  near  a  hundred  miles  long,  and  has  several 


IS 


fine  harbors  in  it,  very  commodious  for  the  fishery,  whereof  that  of 
Louisburg  is  the  principal.  The  city  is  not  only  well  walled,  but, 
as  it  has  wide  trenches  and  flankers,  it  may  properly  be  said  to  be 
completely  garrisoned.  There  is  likewise  a  very  grand  battery,  di- 
rectly opposite  to  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  the  ordnance  whereof 
consists  of  above  thirty  pieces  of  cannon,  all  forty-two  pounders. 

The  Island  Battery;  moreover,  which  is  planted  at  the  mouth 
of  the  harbor,  is  of  equal  strength  and  force; 

Opposite  to  the  Island  Battery  there  is  also  a  very  fine  and  com- 
modious light-house,  as  well  as  a  noble  harbor  for  the  largest  ships. 
Near  the  shore  and  grand  banks,  which  are  about  twenty  leagues 
distance,  there  are  fi.sh  in  abundance.  As  to  the  climate,  it  is  ex- 
ceeding fine  for  curing  fi.sh,  and  rendering  them  fit  for  a  foreign 
market.  Here  are  mackerel  and  herrings  in  plenty,  both  fat  and 
large,  for  baits, 

The  land  here  produces  very  good  wheat,  rye,  and  barley;  and 
the  meadows,  the  best  of  grass.  Besides  these  commodities,  here 
are  fine  beech  wood  and  flake  for  the  mutual  benefit  of  the  indus- 
trious fisherman  and  the  farmer. 

This  port  commands  not  only  Cape  Sable  Shore,  Canso,  and 
Newfoundland,  but  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  and,  by  consequence, 
Canada.  It  is  a  safeguard  likewise  to  the  whole  fishery,  as  well  as 
to  foreign  vessels. 

I  have  been  informed  by  a  French  gentleman,  that  the  .settlement 
of  the  island  of  Gaspey  cost  his  Most  Christian  Majesty  nine  million 
and  a  half  of  money;  and.  since  the  war  commenced,  the  repairs 
that  have  been  made  to  all  the  several  batteries  have  been  attended 
with  great  expense.  As  to  my  own  particular  part,  no  sooner  was 
the  L  ipedition  proposed  at  Boston  in  New  England  by  the  govern- 
ment, but  I  instantly  promoted  the  same;  and  through  my  means 
some  hundreds  entered  into  the  service. 

And  as  I  had  the  honor  to  bear  his  Majesty's  commission  in  the 
royal  regiment  of  foot  guards  in  Barbadoes,  by  virtue  of  that  com- 
mission I  voluntarily  engaged  in  this  expedition,  without  the  least 
pay  or  allowance  for  my  service  or  provision  during  the  whole  siege. 
And  no  sooner  was  it  over,  but  I  assisted  in  the  transportation  of  the 
French  inhabitants  to  Old  France;  having  passed  my  word  to  proceed 
in  a  transport  both  to  France  and  England.  Give  me  leave  here  to 
remind  you  of  my  readiness  to  serve  this  expedition  in  all  respects. 
You  remember,  I  doubt  not,  the  tedious  marches  which  I  made  af- 


13 


reof  that  of 
A-alled,  but, 
i  said  to  be 

battery,  di- 
ice  whereof 
ouiidcrs. 

the  mouth 

lie  and  coni- 
irgest  ships. 
Mity  leagues 
te,  it  is  ex- 
bra  foreign 
)oth    fat  and 

barley;  and 
dities,  here 
)f  the  indus- 

Canso,  and 
:onsequence, 
Y,  as  well  as 

le  settlement 
■  nine  million 
,  the  repairs 
een  attended 
)  sooner  was 
the  govern- 
h  my  means 

mission  in  the 
of  that  com- 
lout  the  least 
whole  siege, 
irtation  of  the 
ird  to  proceed 
leave  here  to 
1  all  respects, 
ich  I  made  af- 


nr 


ter  the  enemy,  and  the  imminent  danger  I  was  in  at  the  north  cast 
harbor,  which  is  about  ten  miles  from  the  grand  battery,  where,  with 
four  men  only,  I  was  loading  a  .schooner  with  plunder.  Whilst  we 
were  busy  in  the  house  whore  our  cargo  lay,  no  less  than  a  hundred 
and  forty  French  and  Indians,  with  a  .shout,  fired  a  volley  against  it; 
whereupon  two  of  the  men  jumped  out  of  the  window,  and  were  shot 
dead,  even  after  they  had  cried  out  quarter.  After  this,  though  the 
French  and  Indians  entered  the  hou.sc,  the  two  other  men  and  my- 
self .so  happily  concealed  our.selves  as  that  we  were  not  discovered. 
Some  .short  time  after,  they  withdrew,  and  we  made  our  escape  to 
the  grand  battery,  though  with  great  fatigue;  for  we  were  forced  to 
take  to  a  thick  wood,  and  run  through  great  swamps,  not  daring  to 
appear  in  the  road,  for  fear  of  .surpri.se.  At  last  God  be  thanked, 
we  arrived  .safe  at  the  grand  battery,  and  received  the  repeated 
congratulations  of  our  friends  on  account  of  our  happy  deliverance, 
which  was  looked  upon  as  almost  miraculous. 

I  hope,  gentlemen,  I  .shall  not  be  thought  vain  in  making  mention 
of  one  other  dangerous  exploit,  in  which  likewise  I  came  off  with 
success.  At  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  with  the  a.ssistance  of 
but  five  men,  I  carried  a  fire-ship  under  the  guns  of  the  city  batteries 
to  the  King's  gate,  where  I  set  fire  to  the  train,  and  .so  quick  was  the 
effect  of  it,  that  I  lost  my  breath  till  I  got  upon  deck.  After  this  we 
went  in  our  boat  under  the  guns  of  the  circular  batter;-,  before  we 
could  go  over  to  the  we.st  .side  of  the  harbor,  for  fear  of  beiiig  dis- 
covered by  the  fire.  The  French,  indeed,  fired  several  times  at 
us;  but  we  happily  received  no  damage.  We  arrived  safe  soon  af- 
ter, at  the  grand  battery;  and  no  sooner  had  the  fire  took  the  pow- 
der, but  it  tore  up  the  decks  of  the  ship,  and  threw  such  a  quantity 
of  stone  into  the  city,  that  they  not  only  broke  down  a  large  spire  of 
the  King's  Gate,  but  the  end  of  a  large  stone  house,  and  burnt 
three  small  vessels,  &c.,  besides. 

As  the  morning  was  very  daik  the  inhabitants  were  strangely 
surprised  at  .such  an  unexpected  act  of  hostility.  I  have  nothing 
further  to  add,  but  that  I  have  prefixed  to  this  Journal  a  plan  of  the 
city,  the  garrisons,  the  harbor,  and  lighthouse,  &c.,  which  I  hope 
will  meet  with  a  favorable  reception  from  you,  and  be  thought  at  the 
same  time  an  acceptable  service  to  the  public.  As  to  what  batteries 
shall  hereafter  be  thought  necessary  to  be  built,  or  what  repairs 
ought  immediately  to  be  made  to  those  that  are  still  standing,  I 
hope  a  true  and  faithful  account  thereof  will   speedilv  be   delivered 


f-1 


V. 


14 

into  those  whom  it  may  more  immediately  concern,  and  that  proper 
persons  who  are  well  wishers  to  their  king  and  country  may  be 
appointed,  as  soon  as  conveniently  may  be,  to  put  the  same  in  exe- 
cution.    T  am,  with  all  due  respect,  gentlemen, 

Your  humble  servant, 

JAMES  GIBSON. 

Dated  July  3,  1745,  in  Louisburg  Harbor,  on  board  the  Speed- 
well, bound  for  France  with  French  inhabitants. 

P.  S.  I  shall  here  take  the  liberty  to  transcribe  a  letter  ver- 
batim, which  I  received    from  Major   William  Hunt. 

Royal  Grand  Battery  of  King  George  the  Second,  at 

Cape  Breton,  in  North  America,  July  4,  1745- 
Capt.  James  Gibson : 

I  do,  in  behalf  of  myself  and  others,  the  commissioned  officers, 
return  you  hearty  thanks  for  the  copy  of  your  Journalduring  the  siege 
against  the  city  of  Louisburg,  at  Cape  Breton,  and  as  you  are  go- 
ing to  France  with  the  French  inhabitants,  and  so  for  England,  we 
wish  you  success,  and  that  you  may,  for  your  charge  and  courage, 
have  great  encouragement,  as  you  did  so  voluntarily  proceed  in  the 
above  expedition  at  your  own  expense.     I  am,  sir. 

Your  most  humble  servant, 

WILWAM  HUNT,  Major. 


i 


15 


that  proper 
;rj  may  be 
;ame  in  exe- 


GIBSON. 
the  Speed- 

,  letter  ver- 


,  at 

y  4.  1745- 

•ned  officers, 
ing  the  siege 
you  are  go- 
England,  we 
nd  courage, 
cceed  in  the 


[T,  Major. 


A  JOURNAL 

OF  TIIK 

SIEGE  OF  THE  CITY  OE  LOUISBURG. 

Tuesday,  April  joth,  1145. — This  day  our  men  of  war,  privateers 
and  transports,  arrived  safe  at  Cabonich  Bay  in  Cape  Breton,  from 
Canso,  where  we  lay  from  the  second  day  of  this  instant  April,  to 
the  28th,  at  which  time  we  anchored  within  five  miles  of  the  City 
of  Louisburg. 

No  sooner  were  our  whale  boats  got  out  in  order  to  land  our 
troops,  but  Capt.  Morepang  came  down  from  the  city  with  four- 
score and  seven  meti  to  prevent  their  attempt.  Our  privateers, 
however,  lying  at  anchor  near  the  shore,  fired  smartly  at  them; 
and  in  the  meantime  we  landed  some  hundred  of  men,  who  went  in 
pursuit  of  the  enemy.  We  killed  six  of  them  and  took  five  prison- 
ers, and,  in  short,  totally  beat  them  off.  Nay,  more,  we  prevented 
'  '^  them  from  getting  into  the  city,  and  obliged  them  to  fly  for  shelter 

into  the  woods. 

Wednesday y  May  I.  Our  troops  marched  towards  the  grand  bat- 
tery, and  set  fire  to  ten  houses,  the  inhabitants  being  fled  into  the 
city.  The  flames  so  .surprised  the  soldiers  in  the  aforesaid  battery, 
that  both  they  and  their  captain  (one  Carey  by  name)  made  the  best 
of  their  way  by  water  into  the  city;  whereupon  several  of  our  com- 
panies took  possession  of  the  place,  and  at  day  break  hoisted  up  King 
George's  flag. 

Thursday,  2.  The  French,  perceiving  the  English  flag  hoisted  up, 
fired  .shot  and  bombs  from  the  island  battery,  and  all  the  other  bat- 
teries hi  the  city,  against  the  grand  battery  incessantly,  day  and 
night,  but  to  no  purpose,  for  they  all  went  .over  us.  Wherever  they 
saw  two  or  three  men  together,  they  would  send  a  bomb  or  a  parcel 
of  shot  after  them.  The  guns  which  we  found  in  the  grand  battery 
were  plugged,  and  their  carriage  wheels,  &c.,  cut  by  the  French. 

Friday,  3.  The  city  and  batteries  fired  smartly  all  day  and  night 
with  bombs  and  cannon  against  the  grand  battery.  One  of  our  guns 
being  drilled,  we  fired  into  the  city,  and  the  first  shot,  being  unex- 
pected, killed  fourteen  men. 

Saturday,  4.  The  city  batteries,  &c.,  played  as  fast  as  possible 
with  bombs  and  camion  against  our  grand  battery.     As  we  had  two 


if' 


1  II 


t  w 


i6 

of  our  guns  drilled,  \vc  fired  against  the  city  with  good  effect;  for  we 
took  vSt.  John's  and  St.  Peter's  and  burnt  them.  We  took  likewise 
alxmt  twenti-  prisoners;  but  the  others  made  their  escape  in  the 
woods.  We  took,  moreover,  several  small  vessels  and  some  plundrr. 
Siimiay,  j.  The  French  fired  but  a  few  guns  and  bombs  against 
us.  This  day  the  first  Protestant  .sermon  was  preached  in  the  mass- 
house  at  the  grand  battery.  The  text  was  taken  out  of  the  looth 
Psalm,  ver.scs  4  and  5.  In  the  evening  we  fired  smartly  against 
the  city  with  our  two  pieces  of  cannon. 

Monday,  6.  Our  company,  consisting  of  ninety-six  men,  march- 
ed to  the  north -cast  harbor,  which  was  ten  miles  from  the  grand 
battery,  and  drove  the  inhabitants  into  the  woods.  Our  grand  bat- 
tery, having  several  guns  drilled,  fired  smartly  against  the  city  and 
i.sland  battery;  they,  however,  fired  but  seldom  at  us. 

Tuesday,  7.  Our  scout  at  the  north-east  harbor  loaded  a  schooner 
with  plunder,  and  a  shallop  with  excellent  fish.  Though  the  city 
and  other  batteries  fired  smartly  against  the  grand  battery,  yet  they 
did  no  damage.  We,  on  the  other  hand,  having  several  guns  drilled, 
firing  smartly  again.stthe  city  and  island  battery,  and  every  gun  did 
execution. 

Wednesday,  8.  The  grand  battery  fired  all  day  against  the  is- 
land battery  and  city,  with  good  effect  ;  the  city  and  other  batter- 
ies, however,  fired  but  seldom  at  us.  One  of  our  guns  liappened 
to  split,  by  which  accident  one  of  our  men  was  hurt. 

Thursday,  9.     Our  grand  battery,  having   twenty   guns  drilled, 
and  their   carriages  repaired,    fired  smartly  against  the   city  and 
island   battery.      We  saw   several  shots  go  through  the  roofs  of 
three  houses;  as  also  several  chimneys,  and  the  arabeseers  of  the 
batteries  knocked  down. 

Friday,  10.  A  small  scout  of  twenty-five  r\en  got  to  the  north-east 
harbor.  I  and  four  more  being  in  a  house  upon  plunder,  140  French 
and  Indians  came  down  upon  us  first,  and  fired  a  volley,  with  a 
great  noise.  Two  jumped  out  of  the  window,  and  were  shot  dead. 
With  great  difficulty  the  other  two  and  myself  got  safe  to  the 
grand  battery.  They  afterwards  killed  nineteen  of  the  remaining 
twenty. 

Saturday,  11.  A  company  this  day  marched  to  the  northeast  har- 
bor, and  buried  the  men  that  were  killed  yesterday.  They  burnt 
likewise  every  house  in  the  place,  with  the  mass-house,  fish  stages, 
and  warehouses.     They  destroyed,  moreover,  about  100  shalloways 


\^' 


ty 


fleet;  for  we 
3ok  likewise 
scape  ill  the 
)nie  pluiidr  r. 
iiibs  against 
in  the  mass- 
f  the  looth 
rtly   against 

nen,  niarch- 
1  the  grand 
r  grand  bat- 
the  city  and 

d  a  schooner 
.igh  the  city 
ery,  yet  they 
guns  drilled, 
very  gun  did 

gainst  the  is- 
other  batter- 
ms  liappened 

guns  drilled, 
the  city  and 
the  roofs  of 
)eseers  of  the 

he  north-east 
r,  140  French 
oUey,  with  a 
re  shot  dead. 
;  safe  to  the 
he  remaining 

lortheast  har- 

They  burnt 

e,  fish  stages, 

00  shalloways 


n' 


and  took  forty  prisoners.  The  grand  battery  fired  smartly  against 
the  city. 

y^unday,  12.  Not  one  gun  fired  from  the  island  battery  this  day. 
The  grand  battery,  however,  and  our  other  batteries  fired  smartly 
again.st  the  city  to  very  good  effect;  for  not  a  gun  was  returned. 
We  had  a  sermon  in  the  mass  house  at  the  grand  battery.  The 
text  was  taken  from  the  27th  verse  of  the  ninth  chapter  of  the 
Hebrews  :  "And  it  is  appointed  uuto  men  once  to  die,  but  after 
this  the  judgment.  So  Christ  was  once  oflered  to  bear  the  sins  of 
many;  and  unto  them  that  look  for  him  shall  he  appear  the  second 
time  without  sin  unto  salvation." 

Mi'ihiay  ij.  At  three  o'clock  this  after-noon,  a  large  French 
snow*  came  around  the  light-house,  the  wind  being  east-north-east. 
She  was  obliged  to  run  into  the  harbor  of  Louisburg.  Though  our 
grand  battery  and  another  battery  fired  at  her,  yet  she  kept  close 
aboard  the  Island  battery  and  the  city,  till  she  grounded  against  the 
king's  gate.  This  vessel  came  from  France,  laden  with  stores  for 
the  fi.shermen.  This  was  the  only  vessel  that  got  in  after  we  had 
taken  possession  of  the  grand  battery.  The  city  and  island  battery 
fired  as  fast  as  possible  against  the  grand  battery  till  the  snow 
grounded.  At  night  we  got  a  large  schooner,  filled  with  com- 
bustibles, put  a  small  sail  on  her,  and  carried  her  between  the  island 
battery  and  the  city.  So  soon  as  the  fire  took  the  train,  the  French 
fired  from  the  city  and  island  battery  against  the  schooner,  and  the 
grand  battery,  no  less  than  thirty  shot.  One  of  our  men  was  killed 
by  landgrage,  and  several  were  wounded.  Our  gunner  likewise  was 
killed  at  our  fascine  battery,  through  the  misfortune  of  a  gun's  split- 
ting. 

Tuesday,  14.  There  was  a  north-east  storm  of  wind  and  rain  this 
day.  The  city  fired  smartly  against  our  fascine  battery.  Our  bat- 
teries, on  the  other  hand,  fired  against  the  city  with  good  effect. 
In  order  to  pre^'^nt  the  loading  of  our  gtins  at  the  fascine  battery, 
the  French  fired  small  arms,  as  soon  as  we  had  discharged  our  can- 
non ;  but  they  did  ao  manner  of  execution. 

Wednesday,  15.  This  day  the  city  fired  several  bombs,  and  guns 
against  our  fascine  battery.  We  fired  twenty -eight  guns  and  sev- 
eral bombs,  which  did  great  execution  in  the  city  ;  for  they  broke 
down  the  wall  of  the  circular  battery  and  the  ambuseers. 

Thursday,  16.     Our  artillery  from  the  Green  Hill  threw  above  fif- 

•vessel. 


0\ 


mmmtmm 


'■  I 


ty  l.om'is  uiifl  l);ills  into  Oie  cit\',  which  dro/e  down  chimneys,  aim 
roofs  of  houses.  The  city,  iiuU'ed,  fired  smartly;  but  not  a  ^Min  was 
heard  from  the  island  battery.  Two  of  our  guns  at  the  grand  bat- 
tery spUl,  by  which  misfortune  two  of  our  men  were  wounded. 

/'y/i/'iv,  17.  Captain  Kouse  convoyed  six  transports  from  Ho-iton 
with  four  months'  provision  for  our  land  army.  Capt.  Oayton,  like- 
wise, arrived  from  i'.oston  with  military  stores.  The  city  fired 
smaitly  all  day  against  our  fascine  battery,  and  the  island  battery 
threw  three  lioml)S  against  the  grand  battery.  We  dragged  several 
forty  two  pounders  from  the  grand  to  the  fascine  battery,  notwith- 
standing it  was  two  miles  distant,  and  the  way  rough.  100  French 
went  out  of  tlie  city  by  water,  and  landed  at  the  back  of  the  light- 
house, in  order  to  cut  off  our  men;  but  as  we  were  ai)prised  of  their 
intention,  we  engaged  them,  killed  three,  wounded  .several,  and 
took  the  ca])tain  of  their  company  prisoner.  One  of  our  Indian 
friends  was  hurt  very  nmch  by  the  splitting  of  one  of  our  guns. 

S.jfiinfjv,  iS.  The  city  fired  as  fast  as  possible  against  our 
fascine  battery  and  artillery  at  the  Green  Hill.  We,  on  the  other 
hand,  shot  several  of  the  French  with  our  small  arms,  at  the  city 
wall  from  our  fascine  battery,  as  it  was  but  twenty-five  roods'  distance. 
Sunday,  n).  Thi.«  day  a  .sad  accident  happened  at  our  fa.scine 
battery.  Two  birrels  of  powder  took  fire,  and  killed  seven  of  our 
men.  Though  all  cur  batteries  fired  smartly  against  the  city,  yet 
the  island  battery  did  not  fire  a  gun  for  several  days;  and  the  last 
shells  they  threw  were  half  filled  with  bran;  from  whence  we  might 
reasonably  conjecture,  that  they  grew  .short  of  powder.  We  had  a 
sermon  preached  to-day,  and  the  text  was  the  nth  verse  of  the  17th 
chapter  of  Exodus;  "And  it  came  to  pa.ss  when  Moses  held  up  his 
hand,  that  Israel  prevailed;  and  when  he  let  down  his  hand,  Amalek 
prevailed." 

Monday,  20.  Two  French  ships  and  a  snow  were  taken  and  sent 
into  Caboruch  Bay.  Commodore  Warren  and  the  other  ships  are 
still  out  in  chase  of  a  man-of-war.  The  city  fired  all  day  against  our 
fascine  battery.  All  our  batteries  fired  so  smartly  against  the  city, 
that  some  of  the  ambuseers  on  the  south  side  were  beaten  down  at 
the  circular  battery.  Two-hundred  of  our  men  marched  on  a  scout 
to  the  north-east  harbor.  Captain  Fletcher  sent  his  boat  ashore  to 
take  in  water,  ten  were  killed,  and  four  escaped. 

Tuesday,  21.     This  day  the  .scout  of  200  men  returned  to  the  grand 
battery,  and  brought  with  them  a  French  doctor,  and  seven  other 


tmnej'S,  ami 
ot  a  gwn  was 

■  grand  bat- 
jiinded. 
from  lioston 
^.aytoii,  likc- 
ic  city  fired 
iland  battery 
gged  several 
ry,  notwith- 

loo  I'"" reach 
of  the  light- 
riscd  of  their 
several,  and 
f  our  Indian 

■  our  guns, 
against    our 
on  the  other 

,  at  the  city 
ids' distance. 
t  our  fascine 
seven  of  our 
tlie  city,  yet 
and  the  last 
ice  we  might 
.  We  had  a 
e  of  the  1 7th 
s  held  up  his 
and,  Ainalek 

ken  and  sent 
her  ships  are 
ly  against  our 
iu'st  the  city, 
'aten  down  at 
ed  on  a  scout 
oat  ashore  to 

1  to  the  grand 
d  seven  other 


} 


>9 

captives,  having  fust  burned  the  mass  house,  and  all  the  other  houses; 
as  also  destroyed  a  ojusideraMe  nu'nbLTorri.>hing  shallops  and  the  fish 
.stages.  Conuuodore  Warren  sent  in  the  I'rench  man-of-w.ir  that 
had  been  chased  for  several  days.  Slie  is  a  fine  new  ship  of  sixty- 
four  guns,  called  the  Vigiliuit,  and  laden  willi  stores,  a  great  num- 
ber of  large  guns,  and  a  large  (juaulily  of  powder,  bcvsidcs  stcnes  for 
the  city  of  I^ouisburg,  and  oUier  stores  for  a  seventy  gun  ship,  wliieh 
is  building  at  Canaila.  A  large  brigautii\e  arrived  this  day  from 
Kranee,  and  came  into  our  fieet  through  mistake,  as  the  weather  was 
very  foggy.  She  was  laden  with  brandy  and  stores.  A  .scout  of  joo 
men  marched  out  after  .some  Hundreds  of  I-'rench  and  Indians  who 
were  coming  down,  as  we  heard  upon  our  camp.  The  scout  returned, 
the  enemy  moving  off,  and  brought  in  seven  cows  and  several 
calves  and  goats,  «.S:c.  Our  snuill  battery,  with  two  pieces  of  can- 
non, fired  on  the  city,  and  did  great  execution  ;  and  notwithstanding 
our  other  battery  fired  smartly  against  the  city  with  good  effect,  yet 
the  city  did  not  return  a  gmi  ;  neither  had  the  island  battery  fired 
a  gun  for  several  days.  At  the  King's  Wharf,  we  found  thirty 
pieces  of  cannon  sunk,  from  .six  to  twelve  pounders.  This  is  the 
pkice  where  the  men  of  war  heave  down.  It  is  a  long  wharf,  that 
is  planked  for  spreading  and  mending  of  sails  ;  and  a  large  .ship 
may  lie  along  side  of  it.     The  Vigilant  lost  sixty  men,  we  only  five. 

IVciinesiiay,  22.  This  daj-  the  city  fired  as  quick  as  possible 
against  us  ;  we,  on  the  other  hand,  .shot  several  of  the  I"rench  who 
were  on  the  city  wall,  with  our  small  arms  from  the  fa.scine  battery; 
and,  as  the  French  gunner  was  luckily  killed  like-wi.se  in  the  city 
by  another  shot,  they  hoisted  their  flags  half  mast  upon  that  occa- 
sion.    This  day  a  fifty-gun  .ship  joined  our  fleet. 

Thursday,  22,.  This  day  a  great  mnnber  of  our  men  were  busily 
employed  in  furni.shing  near  fifty  of  our  whale  boats  with  paddles, 
ladders,  &c.  ;  and,  about  twelve  o'clock,  500  men  of  the  land  army 
and  marines  embarked  from  on  board  the'man  of-war,  with  a  view 
of  making  thenuselves  masters  of  the  island  battery;  but  at  that  time 
there  arose  .such  a  prodigious  fog,  that  they  could  not  see  where  to 
land,  notwithstanding  they  were  in  the  nut  of  the  shore.  When  it 
began  to  clear  up,  they  were  obliged  to  draw  ofl",  though  at  that 
time  there  were  but  fourteen  men  in  the  island  battery. 

Friday,  24.  The  fleet  this  day  appearing  off  the  mouth  of  the 
harbor,  made  a  gallant  show.  At  night,  five  of  our  men  and  my- 
self went  ou   board  a  ship  which   we  first  filled  with  combustibles, 


1  ! 


30 

nnd  tluMi  carried  lifr  under  n  siiiull  sail  l>y  tlie  ir(»ti  1)nttery  til!  we 
gromidcd  lier  a^uiiist  llu-  Kind's  (late  l)el()ii;;iiig  to  the  city.  No 
sooner  was  the  train  set  on  fire,  Imt  Ih*.'  city  fired  sn>!irtly  against 
us;  nnd  when  we  took  l)oat,  we  were  ohlin;ed  to  row  under  tiic  month 
of  their  camion,  till  wc  got  on  the  western  side  of  the  liarbor.  This 
fire  ship  did  as  much  execution  as  we  could  reasonably  expi-ct  ; 
for  it  l.iirnt  three  vessels,  and  not  only  heat  down  the  iiinnacle  ofthc 
King's  gate,  but  great  part  of  a  stone  house  in  the  city;  and  as  this 
was  transacted  in  the  dead  of  the  night,  it  put  the  inhabitants  into 
nil  uncommon  consternation. 

SiiiNnfuy,  .75.  This  day,  the  fascine  battery  fired  .smartly  against 
the  city  wall,  and  not  only  beat  down  a  great  part  of  it,  but  much  dam- 
aged the  citadal.  which  gave  us  <;reat  hopes  of  .success.  The  city, 
indeed,  in  return,  fired  bcjth  their  cannon,  and  Ihcir  small  arms 
against  the  said  battery,  but  to  little  or  no  effect. 

Siitidny,  j6.     This  day,  a  scout,  con.sisting  of  15;  men  besides  my- 
self, marched   to  the   we.st-north-west  part  of  this  island,  which  is 
twenty-five  miles'  distancj,  or  thereabouts,  from  the  grand  battery. 
We  found  two  fine  farms  upon  a  neck  of  land  that  extended  near 
seven  miles  in  length.    The  first  we  came  to  was  a  very  handsome 
house,  and  had  two  large  barns,  well  finished,  that  lay  contiguous  to 
it.     Here,  likewise,  v.'erc    two  very  large  gardens;  as   also,  .some 
fields  of  com  of  a  considerable  height,  and  other  good  land  .sthereto 
belonging,  besides  plenty  of  beech  wood  and  fresh  water.     In  this 
hou.se  we  took  seven  Frenchmen  and  one  woman,  prisoners.    It  was 
not  much  more  than  five  hours  before  our  arrival,  that  140  French 
and  Indians  had  been  killing  cattle  here,  and  baking  bread,  for  pro- 
visions in  their  march  against  our  men,  who  were  at  that  time  pos- 
sessed of  the  light-house.     These   were    the  very  same  band,  or 
company,  that  murdered  nineteen  of  our  men  at  the  north-east  har 
bor  on  the  loth  instant,  and  shot  the  two  men  that  jumped  out  of 
the  window,  as  is  more  particularly  mentioned  in  the  article  of  that 
day.     At  that  unhappy  junction  they  took  one  sergeant  Cockriii 
pri.soner;  and  notwithstanding  he  had  made  it  his  whole  study  from 
that  time  to  humor  and  oblige   them,  yet,  after  a  dance  this  day, 
they  fell  upon  him  and  in  a  most  barbarous  manner  cut  off  the  ends 
of  his  fingers;  after  that  they  had  split  them  up  to  his  hand.     When 
this  scene  of  cruelty  was  over,  they  entered  upon  a  new  one;  and 
in  the  first  place  cut  off  the  tip  of  his  tongue,  and  in  an  insulting 
maimer  bid  him  speak  English;  after  that,  they  cut  off  some  part 


tt 


ttery  till  \vc 
e  city.  No 
irtly  aj;aiiist 
r  the  lunnth 
irl)or.  This 
,1)ly  expect  ; 
luiaclc  of  the 
and  as  this 
;ihit!iiits  into 

irtly  against 

itnutchdnnj- 

.     Tlic  city, 

small  arms 

besides  my- 
iid.  which  is 
•and  battery. 
:tended  neaf 
ry  handsome 
;ontignous  to 
s   also,  .some 
land  sthereto 
ter.     In  this 
ners.    It  was 
t  140  French 
read,  for  pro- 
iiat  time  pos- 
me  band,  or 
)rth-east  har 
mnped  out  of 
.rticle  of  that 
jant  Cockriii 
le  study  from 
ce  this  day, 
t  off  the  ends 
land.     When 
lew  one;  and 
an  insulting 
off  some  part 


of  his  llesh,  and  m:u1e  one  of  l:is  fellow  prisoners  eat  It;  they  then 
cut  his  carcass  up  like  a  parcel  of  inhuman  butchers,  and,  to  show 
their  last  marks  of  malice  and  re.scntment,  threw  it  into  the  sea. 

The  other  house  was  a  fine  stone  edifice,  consisting?  of  six  roon\s 
on  a  floor,  all  well  finished.  There  was  a  fine  walk  before  it,  and 
two  fine  barns  contiguous  to  it,  with  fine  ^;!l^lens  and  apiMirtenances. 
besides  several  fine  fields  of  wheat  In  one  of  the  barns  there  were 
fifteen  loads  of  hay,  and  room  .sulhcicnt  for  threescore  horses  and 
other  cattle.  At  our  dejiarture  from  the  first  farm,  we  set  all  we  left 
behind  us  on  fiie;  and  Inrniuj^  back,  at  a  .small  distance,  we  saw 
some  himdreds  of  the  eneniy  hovering  round  the  flames.  NVc  like- 
wise set  fire  to,  and  reduced  the  last  farm  as  well  as  the  first  to  ruins. 
Here  we  took  three  nicn  in  a  boat  which  was  laden  with  provision, 
and  sailing  down  to  the  city  of  I.ouisbu'-g.  This  last  hou.se  was  sit- 
uated on  the  mouth  of  a  large  salmon  fishery,  which  was  .some  few 
roods  wide;  and,  about  half  a  mile  above  U,  there  was  a  large  pond 
of  fresh  water,  which  was  near  four  miles  over. 

Monday,  2y.  This  day  we  returned  with  our  scmn,  con.si.sting  of 
154  men,  to  the  grand  battery,  all  well,  and  in  high  spirit.  At  twelve 
o'clock  our  whale  boats  were  well  fixed  with  ladders;  and  two  hun- 
dred men  at  least,  if  not  more,  attempted  to  scale  the  walls  of  the 
i.sland  battery.  The  French  di.scovered  the  .same;  and  as  soon  as 
our  boats  came  near  to  shore,  the  French  fired  their  large  cannon 
loaded  with  landgrage,  which  destroyed  several  of  our  boats  as  well 
as  our  men.  Those  that  actually  landed  fought  till  .sunrise,  and 
then  called  for  quarter.  Out  of  the  number  that  went  to  the  island 
battery,  154  of  our  men  were  mis.sing.  By  two  that  deserted  from 
the  French,  we  were  informed  that  118  of  our  men  were  taken  and 
carried  prisoners  into  the  city;  so  that  in  that  bold  attempt  we  lost 
only  .six  and  thirty  men.  The  French  who  were  at  that  time  in 
the  battery,  were  between  300  and  400. 

Tuesday,  28.  This  day,  not  only  the  grand  battery,  but  our  other 
batteries,  fired  smartly  on  the  city.  We  saw  the  shot  beat  down 
several  chimneys,  and  go  through  the  roofs  of  several  houses. 
This  day  a  scout  of  400  men  marched  towards  Scatteree,  upon  in- 
formation that  a  great  number  of  French  and  Indians  were  marching 
towards  our  camps  in  order  to  cut  them  off.  As  our  scout  was  march- 
ing down  a  hill  at  the  north-east  harbor,  they  came  all  on  a  sudden 
upon  160  French  and  Indians,  who,  in  a  great  consternation,  ran  up 
another  hill  that  was  full  of  trees  and  fortified  with  rocks.     As  our 


i:iiririB»ii  rsarramivvs 


22 


people  were  only  in  an  open  garden,  as  it  were,  the  French  and  In- 
dians fired  smartly  at  them;  but,  notwithstanding  their  advantageous 
situation,  we  killed  thirty-seven  and  woi.nded  forty-one,  as  we  were 
informed  by  the  French  captain's  wife,  whom  we  had  taken  prisoner; 
and  tuey  killed  only  ten  of  ours.  The  French  and  Indians  made 
off  in  such  a  hurry,  that  they  did  not  stay  to  bury  their  dead.  This 
was  the  same  company  that  was  at  the  west-north-west  neck  of  land 
on  Sunday  the  26th  instant.  We  Look  their  shalloways  laden  with 
provisions,  &c. 

IVtdntsa'a'.',  2g.  This  day  our  scout,  consisting  of  400  men, 
marched  to  Scatteree,  where  we  burnt  several  houses,  and  took 
six  men  and  three  women  prisoners.  vScatteree  is  about  twenty 
miles  from  the  grand  battery.  Last  night  we  (for  I  was  amongst 
them)  lodged  in  the  woods.  The  French  and  Indians  drew  off. 
Our  batteries  fired  smartly  against  the  city. 

Thursday,  30.  This  day  our  scout,  above  mentioned,  of  400  men, 
returned  to  the  grand  battery,  well  and  in  high  spirits,  &c. 

Friday,  jr.  Rain  and  fog.  Noc  a  gun  was  fired  this  day  on  one 
side  or  the  other. 

Saturday,  June  i.  This  da>-  our  batteries  played  smartly  against 
tlie  city  with  theii  bombs  and  cannon.  The  i.sland  battery  did  not 
fire  a  gun  for  several  days  together,  and  the  city  but  a  few. 

Sunday,  2.  Las:  night  we  raised  a  great  part  of  a  new -battery  a^ 
the  lighthouse.  Two  hundred  men  were  at  work  upon  it.  The 
French  at  the  island  battery,  when  they  saw  it  in  the  morning,  were 
not  only  surprised,  but  so  incensed  at  the  progress  our  men  had  made, 
that  they  fired  a?  fast  as  possible  with  their  bombs  and  cannons 
and  obliged  them  to  draw  off.  One  flanker  of  this  battery  fronts 
the  sea,  and  the  other  is  directlj-  opposite  to  the  island  battery;  so 
that  we  can  sweep  the  platform  of  the  island  battery;  and  command 
all  the  shipping  that  goes  in  or  comes  out.  The  French  laid  a  boom 
from  the  east  battery  to  that  of  the  west,  in  order  to  prevent  any  of 
our  fireships  from  annoying  the  city,  or  any  of  our  boats  from  laud- 
ing. We  had  a  sermon  on  the  following  words  :  'Prepare  to  meet 
thy  God,  O  /^ion.' 

Monday,  J.  This  day  a  vessel  arrived  from  Boston  with  a  large 
mortar  piece,  which  was  landed,  and  drawn  to  the  lighthouse  bat- 
tery. We  had  advice  from  the  captain  that  r,ooo  men  were  volun- 
tarily rai.sed  to  reinforce  our  troops  here;  and  that  we  might  expect 
them  very  soon.     We  had  farther  advice   that  the  French   fleet  of 


1\ 


ench  and  In 
advantageous 
i,  as  we  were 
kca  prisoner; 
udians  made 
•  dead.  This 
neck  of  land 
,-s  laden  with 

of  400  men, 
,es,  and  took 
about  twenty 
was  amongst 
ans  drew  off. 

i,  of  400  men, 

,  &c. 

is  day  on  one 

inartly  against 
)attery  did  not, 
L  a  few. 

;iew -battery  al; 
upon  it.  The 
morning,  were 
lien  had  made, 
and  cannons 
battery  fronts 
id  battery;  so 
and  command 
ch  laid  a  boom 
prevent  any  of 
jats  from  land- 
epare  to   meet 

n  with  a  large 
lighthouse  bat- 
en  were  volun- 
might  expect 
'reuch   fleet  of 


incn  of-war  were  stopped  al  Brest  by  our  English  men-of-war.  We 
had  moreover  600  barrels  of  pov.-der  arrived  from  Boston,  besides 
stores  for  the  army.  Thi.s  .supply  of  amnumition  came  very  oppor- 
tunely; for  we  had  not  powder  sufficient  for  any  more  than  four 
rounds  at  the  grand  batterj-.  This  put  new  life  and  spirits  into  all 
of  us. 

7'in\(//,;v,  4.  This  day  v/e  fired  our  cannon  rnd  boml)S  again.st  the 
city.  Both  of  our  mortars  proved  so  defective,  that  it  was  not  thought 
safe  to  make  use  of  them  any  more.  Whereupon  a  privateer-.snow 
w.ns  setit  immediately  to  Annapolis  for  a  fresh  supplj'.  We  heard 
such  a  great  number  of  guns  fired  at  sea,  that  we  concluded  there 
was  a  smart  engagement  between  our  men-of-war  and  the  French. 

Wednesday,  5.  Last  night  was  taken  and  brought  In  a  French  ship 
of  fourteen  carriage  guns,  and  above  300  ton,  laden  with  beef,  pork, 
butter,  cheese,  pease,  beans,  brandy,  salt,  and  other  stores  for  the 
fishery.  This  was  the  ship,  it  seems,  which  we  i.^^ard  in  the  engage- 
ment yesterday.  The  fascine  battery  play>  '  smartly  with  their 
bombs  and  cannons,  and  to  verj'  good  effect.  In  the  morning,  the 
French  drank  to  us  from  the  city  wall,  we  being  so  near  that  we 
could  speak  to  each  other. 

Tliiirsday,  6.  This  day  the  French  prisoners  that  were  taken  in 
the  Vigilant,  and  s"»me  others  who  were  made  captives  by  land, 
were  carried  onboard  Captain  Gayton,  and  several  other  transports, 
and  the  prizes  bound  for  Boston,  being  in  number  upwards  of  1,000 
men. 

Friday,  7.  This  day  the  prizes  and  prisoners  set  sail  for  Boston, 
under  the  convoy  of  Capt.  Gayton  and  Snelling.  Our  battery  fired 
smartly. 

Saturday,  8.  '^his  day  we  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  the  governor  o'  the 
city  of  Louisburg,  \vith  a  letter  from  the  captain  who  was  taken  in 
the  Vigilant  man-of-war,  wherein  he  gave  advice  that  both  he  and 
his  men  were  treated  in  a  handsome  manner  by  the  English,  and 
desired  to  know  the  reason  why  the  English  did  not  meet  with  the 
like  civil  treatment  and  good  quarter ;  at  the  north-east-harbor  and 
island  battery,  when  r^nuested. 

Sunday,  9.  Two  Switzers  last  night  deserted  the  French  guards 
in  the  city,  and  came  to  our  grand  battery,  who  informed  us  that 
there  was  no  meat  to  be  had  in  all  the  city;  and  that  the  French 
subsisted  wholly  on  salt  fi.sh,  bread  and  pease.  They  assured  us 
likewise,  that  there  were  but  about  100  barrels  of  powder  left  for 


'% 


'f-^ 


wntmrnmrnmi^s^!* 


I  ::- 


24 

• 

all  tlieir  batteries.  To  this  they  added,  that  the  first  giin  that  we 
drilled  and  fired  from  the  grand  battery  killed  fourteen  of  theirmen. 
This  day  our  men  of-war  went  in  chase  of  a  large  ship,  which  proved 
to  be  a  man-of-war,  to  join  our  fleet  from  England.  Two  valuable 
prizes  were  taken  and  sent  to  Boston.  A  large  sloop  of  110  ions, 
from  Canada,  laden  with  provisions  and  bour.d  for  Loui.sbnrg,  was 
chased  by  one  of  our  privateers,  and  ran  on  shore  at  the  back  of  the 
light  house;  about  fifty  men  made  their  escai)e.  We  got  the  vessel 
off  without  any  damage. 

Monday,  10.  This  day  our  new  battery  at  the  light-house  played 
with  three  ]ncces  of  cannon  against  the  island  battery.  Our  south 
pla-iiker  swept  the  west  platform,  so  that  they  could  not  load  their 
cannon.  Tlie  French  would  have,  jumped  out  of  the  ambuseers  into 
the  sea,  but  when  they  found  we  had  but  three  guns  mounted,  they 
fired  bombs  and  shot  as  fast  as  possibly  they  dared  to  load,  from  the 
north  flanker.  It  was  all  to  no  purpose,  however;  for  we  beat  down 
part  of  their  garrison  house. 

Tuesday,  11.  This  day  a  scout  of  250  men  (  amongst  whom  1  was 
one)  marched  out  of  the  grand  battery  to  Scatteree;  we  being  in- 
formed l)y  some  prisoners,that  several  hundreds  of  French  and  Indians 
were  coming  down  upon  our  camps.  Two  of  our  transports  landed 
some  ordnance  and  provisions  at  the  light  house.  Though  the  French 
at  the  island  battery  fired  bombs  and  shot  in  the  morning  as  fast  as 
possibly  they  could,  yet  they  did  no  manner  of  damage.  Last  night 
two  boats  came  safe  into  the  harbor  with  powder  and  ball.  We  had 
200  men  at  work  o'nights  at  the  light-house  battery.  All  our  batter- 
ies Sred  smartly  against  the  city,  and  with  good  effect.  As  their  shot 
and  bombs  fell  short,  we  imagined  that  their  powder  was  near  spent. 
Wedt'csday,  12.  For  three  nights  past,  our  boats  brought  in  pro- 
visions and  stores  from  Caboruch  Bay,  by  the  island  battery,  with- 
out the  least  interruption.  This  day  our  scout  of  230  men  returned 
from  their  march,  and  found  the  enemy  were  moved  off.  Yesterday 
two  men-of-war  from  England  joined  our  fleet.  The  city  threw 
sixty-two  bombs  against  uS  from  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  to 
eight  the  next  morning,  and  a  great  number  of  shot  besides,  which 
did  no  great  damage.  However,  our  bombs  and  shot  beat  down 
several  chinmeys  and  roofs  of  houses,  &c. 

Thursday,  13.  Yesterday  the  city  fired  seventeen  bombs  and 
shot  against  a  small  battery  which  we  had  erected  about  a  mile 
from  the  grand  battery.     Five  of  them  were  forty-two  pounders. 


as 


t  giiii  that  we 
of  their  men. 
which  proved 
Pwo  valuaVile 
}  of  no  ions, 
ouisbiirg,  was 
e  back  of  the 
50t  the  vessel 

-house  played 
y.  Our  south 
not  load  their 
mbuseers  into 
nouiited,  they 
load,  from  the 
we  beat  down 

t  whom  1  was 
;  we  being  in- 
ch and  Indians 
nsports  landed 
gh  the  French 
ning  as  fast  as 
e.  Last  night 
aall.  We  had 
All  our  batter- 
As  their  shot 
■as  near  spent, 
irought  vn  pro- 
battery,  with- 
)  men  returned 
(ff.  Yesterday 
he  city  threw 
le  afternoon  to 
besides,  which 
LOt  beat  down 

;n   bombs   and 

about  a  mile 

two  pounders. 


Last  nigh!:  Vv-c  rartied  a  schooner  out  of  the  harlior  Though  the 
island  battery  fired  twenty  odd  bombs  and  shot  lilcewise  against  our 
light-house  battery,  yet  they  did  no  damage.  Our  bon.lis  and  shot, 
un  the  other  hand,  did  considerable  execution.  The  .ships  of  war 
which  lay  at  anchor  before  the  harbor,  are  these  that  follow,  viz.: 
Connnodore  Warren  in  the  vSuperb,  the  Hector,  the  Allham,  the 
Launcestou,  the  Princess  Mary,  the  Mermaid,  the  Chester,  the  Can- 
terbury, the  Sundeiland,  the  Lark.  The  Vigilant,  a  man-of  war  of 
sixty-four  guns,  taken  frora  tlie  French.  Besides  the;"-e,  several 
twenty-gun  ship.,  from  New  Fngland;  also  snows,  brigantincs,  and 
.sloops  of  force,  in  all  above  twenty;  and  moreover  85  transports. 
Twenty  French  pri/,e.s  VNcre  taken  to  this  day. 

A  large  private  l)riganline  of  eighteen  carriage  guns,  and  120 
tons,  was  fitted  out,  and  w^,s  to  sail  the  day  we  landed;  but  the 
French  innuediately  scuttled  and  .sunk  her  in  the  harbor.  Yesterday 
we  got  up  a  fine  .sloop  which  the  French  had  .sunk,  laden  with 
plank  and  tiiiiber,  intended  for  a  new  platform,  the  foundation 
whereof  was  laid  at  the  west  jiart  of  the  grand  l)attery,  and  was  to  be 
finished  this  year;  but  we  have  saved  them  that  charge  and  trouble. 

Friday,  14.  Last  night  the  large  mortar  from  Boston  was  con- 
veyed to  the  light-house  battery,  which  played  again.st  the  i.sland 
battery  seven  pieces  of  ordnance,  and  one  mortar,  which  beat  down 
not  only  the  end  of  the  garrison,  but  all  the  chinmeys  and  part  of 
the  roof;  as  also  the  north  ambuseers,  and  dismounted  several  guns. 
When  the  French  saw  a  bomb  coming,  they  would  jump  out  of  the 
ambuseers  into  the  sea.  As  the  city  was  highly  di.sgusted  at  this 
battery,  they  fired  forty-six  bombs  and  as  many  shot.  On  the  other 
hand,  our  several  batteries  played  all  day  long,  and  fired  160  bombs 
besides  shot.  Ladders  are  at  this  time  fitting  in  order  to  scale  the 
walls  of  the  city.  A  great  number  of  shalloways  likewise  are  now 
fitting  in  order  to  land  men  from  the  fleet,  or  take  up  men  in  case  a 
man-of-war  should  be  sunk  as  she  came  into  the  harbor. 

Saturday,  15.  This  day  om-  wiiole  fleet  of  men-of-war,  privateers 
and  transports  made  a  gallant  appearance  before  the  harbor.  A 
flag  of  truce  came  from  the  city,  at  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  to 
our  camps,  and  offered  to  deliver  up  the  city  on  the  terms  we  pro- 
posed on  our  demand  of  the  city,  and  the  territories  thereunto  be- 
longing, in  the  name  and  on  the  behalf  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  King 
George  the  Second.  The  consideration  of  so  important  an  affair 
was  postponed  till  8  o'clock  the  next  morning,  at  which  time  the 


irf^ 


a6 


I 


it     ' 

Bit 


flag  of  truce  agree  to  attci-.d.      Wliercupou  all  our  batteries  ceased 
firing  until  further  onkrs. 

SinitLiv,  i6.  The  Prencli  flag  of  truce  came  out  of  the  city  to 
our  camps,  at  8  o'clock  this  morning;  and  it  was  theii  finally  agreed 
and  detcrniincd,  by  capitulation,  that  the  rrench  slumld  have  all 
their  personal  effects,  and  likewise  be  transported  to  iM-ance  at  the 
expen.^e  of  the  Knglish.  The  said  articles  being  thus  settled  and 
adjusted,  we  have  now  liberty  to  march  into  the  cily  with  our  land 
army.  The  men  of  war  likewise,  the  privateers  and  transports,  may 
now  without  interruption  anchor  in  the  harbor,  ik.c.,  ivic. 

Mouddx,  17.  This  day  the  French  flag  was  struck,  and  tlie  Eiig- 
lisli  one  hoisted  up  in  its  place  at  the  island  battery.  We  took  pos- 
session early  in  the  morning.  V/e  hoisted  likewise  the  Ivnglish  fl;ig 
at  the  grand  battery,  and  our  other  new  batteries;  then  fired  our  can- 
nons, and  gave  three  hu/./.as.  At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Com- 
modore Warren,  with  all  the  men  of-wai ,  as  also  the  prize  man-of-war 
of  sixty-four  guns;  our  twenty-gun  .ships;  likewise  our  snows,  brigan- 
tines,  privateers  and  transjjorts,  came  into  Loui.sburg  harbor,  which 
made  a  beautiful  appearance.  Wlieu  all  were  safely  moored,  they 
proceeded  to  fire  on  .such  a  victorious  and  joyful  occasion.  About 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  our  laud  army  marched  to  the  south 
gate  of  the  city,  and  entered  the  same,  and  so  proceeded  to  the  pa- 
rade near  the  citadel;  the  French  troops  at  the  .same  time  being  all 
drawn  up  in  a  very  regular  order.  Our  army  received  the  usual  sa- 
lute from  them,  every  part  being  performed  with  all  the  decency  and 
decorum  imaginable.  And  as  the  French  were  allowed  to  carry  ofir 
their  ehocts,  so  our  guard  took  all  the  care  they  possibly  could  to  pre- 
vent the  couiiuou  soldiers  from  pilfering  and  .stealing,  or  otherwise 
giving  them  the  least  molestation.  The  guard  and  watch  of  the 
city,  the  garri.sons,  &c.,  were  delivered  to  our  troops. 

Tucschy,  18.  Last  night  a  ship  came  against  the  mouth  of  the 
harbor,  and  lay  there  becalmed.  In  the  morning  a  man- jf-war  towed 
out,  and  fired  two  shot  at  her.  .She  answered  with  one,  and  then 
struck.  Whereupon  sh".  was  towed  into  the  harbor  !iy  our  boats. 
She  proved  to  be  a  storeship  of  tv.-enty  guns,  about  300  tons,  from 
France,  and  very  valuable. 

IFt'dnrsihiy,  19.  This  day,  upon  the  nearest  computation  that  could 
be  made,  it  was  agreed  on  both  .sidos,  that  .since  the  Fnglish  had 
laid  siege  to  the  city,  &c.,  that  nine  thousand  shot  and  six  hundred 
bombs  had  been  discharged  by  the  Knglish  against  the  French.     . 


I" 


if 


tteries  ceased 

)f  the  city  to 
finally  agreed 
)uld   have   all 

France  at  the 
IS  settled  and 
with  our  land 
ansports,  may 
c. 

and  tlie  Eng- 

\Ve  took  pos- 
ic  IvngUsh  llig 
I  fired  our  can- 
ternoon,  Coni- 
x.c  man-of-war 
snows,  brigan- 
harbor,  which 
■  moored,  they 
asion.     About 

to  the  soutVi 
ded  to  the  pa- 
time  being  all 
1  the  usual  sa- 
le decenc)'  and 
ed  to  carry  off 
y  could  to  pre  - 
g,  or  otherwise 

watch   of  the 

mouth  of  the 
II-  jf-war  towed 

one, and  then 
!iy  our  boats. 
300  tons,  from 

ition  that  could 
LC  r.nglish  had 
nd  six  hnndred 
lie  French.     , 


['■ 


Thursday,  20.  The  guns  being  moved  from  one  of  our  small  bat- 
teries to  the  grand  battery,  the  ambuscers  were  levelled. 

Friday,  2\.  The  guns  being  moved  from  the  fascine  battery  into 
the  city,  the  amijuseers  were  levelled. 

Saturday,  22.  More  guns  moved  into  the  city.  The  guns  likewise 
at  the  light-house  were  dismounted. 

Sunday.  2j.  A  sermon  preached  at  the  grand  l)at'i.ery  from  the 
following  M'ordsin  the  third  chapter  of  revelations:  "Behold,  I  stand 
at  the  door,  and  knock:  if  any  man  hear  my  voice,  and  open  the 
duor,  I  will  come  in  to  him,  and  will  sup  with  him,"  <!<:c. 

Monday,  -V-  Very  foggy.  We  heard  .several  guns  at  sea.  It 
proved  to  be  Captain  Rouse  from  Annapolis,  with  three  mortars, 
shells,  and  .shot. 

'J'uesdav,  Jj.  A  great  number  of  men  were  employed  to  get  up 
ihe  vessels  which  were  .sunk  in  the  harbor  by  the  French  thn  very 
first  da}' we  landed.     We  are  in  hopes  they  will  i)rove  -^iuable. 

Wednesday,  26.  Last  night  we  got  off  two  Frene.i  vessels  that 
had  been  hauled  ashore.     When  our  men  got  up,   the  vcs.sels  sunk. 

Thursday,  21.  This  evening  several  shallops  came  in  from  the 
island  Scatterce  with  lu-ench  inhabitants,  and  surrendered  them- 
selves on  the  terms  mentioned  in  the  capitulation  with  the  French  in 
the  city. 

Friday,  28.  From  this  daN  to  July  the  4th,  Vv"C  were  preparing 
vessels  for  the  tran.sportation  of  the  French  in  Louisburg  tp  Rochfort 
ill  France. 

July  4.  This  day  eleven  transports  set  sail,  together  with  the 
Launceston  man  of-war,  a  forty  gun  ship.  Captain  Man,  who  was  our 
convoy  commander.  There  were  several  occurrences  which  were 
very  remarkable  during  the  siege.  In  the  first  place,  all  the  houses 
in  the  city  (one  only  excepted)  had  some  shot  through  them,  more  or 
less;  some  had  their  roofs  beat  down  with  bombs.  As  for  the  famous 
citadel  and  hospital,  they  were  almost  demolished  by  bombs  and 
shot.  The  next  thing  remarkable  was,  that  from  the  first  day 
we  began  the  siege  to  that  of  our  marching  into  the  city,  it  was  such 
fine  weather,  that  we  did  not  loose  one  single  day  in  the  prosecution 
of  our  design.  And  moreover,  that,  from  the  17th  of  June  to  the  4th 
of  Jul}',  (which  was  the  day  we  sailed  for  F'rance,  with  the  French 
inhabitants,)  it  either  rained  or  was  foggy.  Upon  which  a  French- 
man made  the  following  remark,  that  the  Virgin  Mary  was  peculiarly 
kind  to  the  English,  in  sending  them  fair  weather  during  the  whole 


-•mmiSivuiummMjmsmtm 


aS 


siege,  ami  tlicn  in  clnn<^'ini^  it  to  rain  and  fug  as  soon  as  it  was  over. 

I  shall  conclude  my  Journal  of  the  late  expedition,  and  sicj^i^ 
against  the  city  of  Louislnn-g,  and  the  territories  thereunto  belong- 
ing, with  the  following  additioi  After  wc  had  marched  into  ihe 
city,  I  waited  upon  a  g.ntleman  who  wa ;  inviolaMy  attached  to  the 
King  of  France  in  Ouccn  Anne's  War.  This  gentleman  had  tahcn 
the  New  ICnglan.d  Country  (valley;  he  had  assisted  likewise  in  the 
taking  of  seventy  sail  of  vessels  more  on  tl;e  coast  of  New  Ivng- 
land:  and  nov/  in  the  above  mentioned  .-licge,  he  came  out  of  I,ouis- 
bnrg  with  fourscore  and  seven  men,  in  order  to  prevent  our  troops 
from  landing,  but  was  hapi)ily  beat  ofl".  This  gentleman,  I  say, 
told  me,  that  he  had  not  had  his  clothes  off  his  back,  either  by 
night  or  day,  from  the.  first  commencement  of  the  siege,  lie  add- 
ed, moreover,  that  in  all  the  hi.storics  he  had  ever  read,  he  never 
n;et  with  an  instance  of  .so  bold  and  jjresumntuous  an  attempt;  that 
it  was  almost  impracticable,  as  any  one  would  think,  for  3,000  or 
4,000  raw,  undisciplined  men  to  lay  .siege  to  such  a  strong,  well-for- 
tified city,  such  garrison.s,  batteries,  &c.;  for  should  any  one  have 
a.sked  me,"  said  he,  "what  number  of  men  v.ould  have  been  suffi- 
cient to  have  carried  on  that  very  enterprise,  I  should  have  answer- 
ed no  less  tlnin  30,000."  To  this  he  subjoined  that  he  never  heard 
of,  or  ever  .sav.-  such  courage  and  intrejiidity  in  such  a  handful  of 
men,  who  regarded  neither  .sh.ot  nor  bombs;  but  v.hat  was  still 
more  surprising  than  all  the  rest,  he  said,  was  this,  namely,  to  see 
the  batteries  rai.sed  in  a  night's  time;  and  more  particularly  the 
fascine  battery,  which  was  not  five  and  twenty  roods  from  the  city 
wall;  and  to  see  guns,  that  Avere  forty-two  pounders,  dragged  by 
the  Knglish  from  their  grand  battery,  notw  Ithstanding  it  was  two 
miles  distant  at  least,  and  the  road,  too,  very  rough.  May  courage, 
resolution,  life,  and  vigor,  be  forever  conspicuous  in  all  our  Ivng- 
lish  officers  and  soldiers  '.  for  victory,  under  God,  depends  princi- 
pally on  their  care  and  conduct;  and  may  the  exam: ''e  of  the  above- 
named  French  captain  animate  us  to  be  bold  and  daring  in  a  just 
cause  !  In  a  word,  may  it  induce  us  faithfully  to  discharge  the  great, 
the  important  trust  reposed  in  us,  by  virture  of  the  commi.ssions 
whicli  we  bear  under  our  most  gracious  Sovereign  Lord  King 
George  ! 

Should  this  be  the  happy  effect  of  that  gentleman's  example, 
then  we  may  daily  expect  to  make  large  additions  to  his  majesty's 
dominions;    then   we  may  hope,  with  just  grounds,  to  defeat  the 


-1    ' 


u 


s  it  wns  over. 
>;i,  and  sicj^i^ 
:r.nto  belong;- 
:Vicd  into  Uie 
tached  to  the 
lan  had  tal;cn 
kcwise  in  the 
of  New  Kng- 

out  of  Loiiis- 
r.il  our  troops 
cnian,  I  say, 
ck,  eitlier  by 
:;c.  lie  add- 
ud,  he  never 
attempt;  that 
,  for  3,000  or 
•ong,  well -for - 
my  one  have 
.vc  been  sulTi- 

havc  answer - 
c  never  heard 
1  a  handful  of 
,hat  was  still 
lamely,  to  see 
rticularly   the 

from  the  city 
■',,  dragged  by 
ng  it  was  two 
May  courage, 
I  all  our  h'ng- 
;pends  princi- 

of  the  above - 
ing  in  a  just 
irge  the  great, 
e  commissions 
gn  Lord  King 

an's  example, 

o  his  majesty's 

to  defeat  the 


h 


common  disturi  er  of  our  peace  and  traminilily ;  to  humble  his  pride, 
and  make  him  tril)utary  to  u.,;  then,  in  short,  we  may  reason;;' ly 
expect  to  see  halcyon  days  thnjughout  his  majesty's  extensive 
dominions,  and  secure  our  most  excellent  constitution  both  in 
chtn-cli  and  state.  In  order  to  give  our  readers  a  transient  idea  of 
the  ill-treatment  we  met  with  at  RDchhjrt  in  France,  I  shall  here 
take  tlie  lil)erty,  not  only  to  tran.seribe  a  letter  which  I  wrote  on 
that  subject  to  an  intimate  friend,  l.-'t  the  petition  which  twelve  of 
lis,  in  I'elialf  of  ourselves  and  fellow-sufferers,  signed,  and  sent  in  the 
most  .submissive  maimer  to  Connnodore  MacLemairougli,  who,  like 
an  inl'.mnan  savage,  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  our  comi)laints,  and  rather 
added  to  our  mi.sery  than  an\-  ways  relieved  us. 

TlITv   COPY   OP   TIIK   LKTTKK. 

HoxoKKD  SiK  : — Pursuant  to  your  request,  I  here  give  you  a  true 
and  impartial  account  of  the  cruel  and  barl)arous  treatment  which  we 
met  with  from  the  iM-ench  at  Koelifortin  France. 

On  the  fourth  of  July  la.st,  fourteen  cartels, with  the  Launceston  man- 
of-war,  set  sail  from  lyoui.sburg  at  Cape  Breton,  for  France  with 
French  inhabitants.  No  .sooner  were  we  arrived  in  the  roadstead 
of  Rochfort,  l)ut  Connnodore  MacLemarroi'gh,  in  a  ship  of  seventy- 
four  guns,  obliged  us  to  come  to  under  his  stern  in  thirteen  fathoms 
of  water.  We  obej'cd,  and  showed  our  passports,  which  when  he 
read,  he  in.sisted  that  every  master  .should  deliver  into  his  hands  his 
particular  journal.  Some  looking  on  it  as  an  unreasonable  demand, 
with  resolution  oppo.sed  it,  but  were  confined  in  irons  on  his  .ship 
for  their  refusal.  Soon  after,  he  .sent  for  me  on  board;  and  I  attend- 
ed accordingly.  Being  admitted  into  the  cabin,  he  ordered  me  to 
sit  down  at  his  green  table,  and  give  an  account  of  my  own  proceed- 
ings in  writing;  Vvhich  orders  I  readily  comnlied  with.  Having 
fini.shed  my  declaration,  I  delivered  it  into  his  hands;  and  upon  the 
receipt  of  it,  he  told  me  in  direct  terms,  that  the  cartels  could  ex- 
pect no  favor  at  Rochfort;  and  that,  as  for  my  own  particular  part, 
since  he  was  credibly  informed  b3'  several  of  the  pa.ssengers,  that  I 
had  been  a  very  bus5%  active  fellow  against  the  interest  of  his  most 
Christian  Majesty  at  Louisburg,  in  case  he  could  find  out  any  article 
whatever  that  was  in  the  least  con*^radictory  to  the  declaration  I  had 
delivered,  that  he  would  send  me  to  the  tower.  Whereupon  he  im- 
mediately sent  oil  board  for  my  trunk,  and  insisted  on  my  giving  him 
the  key.  I  did,  and  he  took  out  all  my  papers,  and  read  them  over 
in  the  first  place.     After  that,  he  broke  open  the  letters  which  I  had 


If** 


i^ 


'V 


.?o 


directed  for  Loiidoi;.     Those,  indeed,  he  scaled  n\)  again,  and,  hav- 
ing pnt  them  into  the  trunk,  dismissed  nic.      His  next  orders  were, 
thai  the  cartels  sliould  not  presume  to  go  on  l)o;ird  their  convoy,  the 
Launeestoii,  on   anj'    ]'tetence    wl'.atcver,  without   his    ])ennission. 
He  charged  us  Hkewise  not  to  go  on  shore,  and  gave  strict  (M-dersto 
the  garrison  to  wateh  us  night  and  day;  and,  incase   any  ot  us  at- 
tem])led  to  set  fool  on  shore,  the   guards  were  directed  to  shoot  us 
without   asking  any   (juestions  ahout  the  matter.     His  severity,  in 
short,  extended  so  far  as  not  to  permit  a  lioat  to  hrirg  us  the   least 
sujiply  of  any  nature  or  kind   whatsoever;  insomuch   that  we  v.ere 
obliged  to  li\e  Vvdiolly  on  salt  jirovisions,  and  drink  water  that  was 
ropy,  and  very  offensive  to  the  smell,  for  above  six  weeks  successive- 
ly.     When  this  cruel  connnodore  set  sail  with  Ins  fleet,  witli   about 
two  hundred  sail  of  merchantmen  and  seven  mcnof-war  for  llispan- 
iola,  another  commodore  supplied  his  place.     On  Sunday  eve  he  sent 
out  a   yawl,  with  orders   for  all  the  cartels  to  uidjend   their  sails. 
^Vc  did  as  directed,  and  on  Monday  nujrning  his  men  came  in  their 
long-boat,  and  carried  all  our  sails  on  .shore  into  the  garrison;  which 
surprised    us  to  the  last  degree,  as  we  had  been  detained  so  long, 
and  lived  in  expectation  of  our  passports  every  day.     At  this  un- 
happy junction,  Capt.  Robert  Man,   who  was  commander  of  the 
Launccston,  was  taken  violently  ill  of  a  fever  ;  and  notwitlistanding 
intercession   was  made  that  he   might  be  moved  on   .shore,  as  the 
noise  on  board  affected  his  head  too  uuich,  yet  the   favor  was  inhu- 
manly denied  him  ;  and  every  oflicer  in  the  ship  besides.    As  to  the 
poor  luiglish  prisoners,  they  were  used  in  a  most  barbarous  maimer; 
for  their  principal  food  was  horse-beans,  and   about  an   inch  of  beef 
once  in  about  twenty-four  hours.     Besides,  they  were  so  close  im- 
prisoned, that  some  of  them  fainted  away  for  want  of  air;  and  had 
it  not  been   for  the  private  charitable  relief  which   they  received 
from  a  good   old  protcstant  lady,  several   of  them  nui.st  have  been 
aqluully  starved.     Nay,  moreover,  when  any  of  them  were    sick, 
she  would  visit  them,  and  bring  them  prayer-book,'-^,  and  other  books 
of  devotion,  which  she  concealed  in  a  chest  under  ground;  and  then 
would  exhort  them  to  put  their  trust  and  confidence  in  God,  who  in 
his  own  due  time  would  deliver  them  out  of  the  hands  of  their  arbi- 
tary  and  blood-thirs'y  enemies.     And  if  any  died,  she  would  send 
Collins  privately  by  night  for  the  removal  of  their  bodies,  and  bury 
them  at  her  own   expen.se.     One  of  these  poor  wretches  was  in 
such  a  week  and  sickly  couditiou,  that,  being  thirsty,  and  inclining 


! 


:iiii,  and,  liav- 
:  orders  were, 
r  convo}',  the 
s  j)cnuission. 
ilrJct  orders  to 

any  ot  us  at- 
d  to  shoot  us 
s  scveritj',  in 
g  us  the  least 
that  we  were 
ater  that  was 
ks  sueccssive- 
t,  with  about 
ir  for  Hispan- 
ay  eve  he  sent 
d  their  sails. 

came  in  their 
irrison;  which 
lined  so  long, 
.  At  this  un- 
nander  of  the 
Jtwitlistanding 

shore,  as  the 
ivor  was  inha- 
les. As  to  the 
arous  manner; 
n  inch  of  beef 
e  so  close  im- 
F  air  ;  and  had 
they  received 
i.st  have  been 
111  were  sick, 
id  other  l)ooks 
mnd ;  and  then 
u  God,  who  in 
s  of  their  arln- 
he  would  send 
dies,  and  bury 
etches  was  in 
,  and  inclining 


31 

his  head  to  drink  out  of  a  stone  font,  he  had  not  strength  to  raise 
it  again,  and  by  that  means  was  unhappily  strangled.  All,  in  short, 
that  lived  to  come  on  board,  were  fo  weak  that  they  could  scarce 
crawl  UjHMi  the  dock.  As  our  treatment  from  the  iMX-nch  was  in 
every  ro;>peet  so  ciuel  and  inliuman,  a  i)t'titir)n  or  remonstrance  to 
ComiiKMlore  MacLeniarnnigh  was  drawn  \\\\  and  signed  on  tlie  25th 
of  August,  I7.J5,  by  twelve  of  us,  the  purport  whereof  was  as  fol 
lows  : 

That  the  petitioners  Morc  taken  up  at  the  city  of  Louisburg,  in 
his  Hril;innic  Majesty's  .service  on  the  ;oth  of  June  tlicn  last  past, 
in  order  to  tran-port  the  iM-ench  inhabitants  of  that  city  to  Roch- 
fort. 

That  the  petitioners  were  well  assured  by  General  Peppcrell  and 
Commodore  Warren,  as  also  1)y  the' commanding  oOicer  of  I<ouis- 
burg,  that,  as  the  terms  of  the  capitulation  were  so  generous,  in  re- 
gard to  the  inhabitants,  that  there  V\TS  no  doubt  to  l)e  made  of  their 
uieeting  with  a  like  generous  treatment  in  I'rance,  and  that  the  pe- 
titioners would  be  dispatched  to  luigland  without  delay. 

That  the  petitioners  had  been  arrived  above  twenty  days,  and  that 
they  and  their  men  suffered  very  severely  for  want  of  fresh  ])rovisions; 
and  th.at  great  numbers  of  them  lay  sick;  and  that  the  cau.se,  as  they 
humbly  conceived,  was  their  living  on  salt  provi.iions  entirely,  and 
drinking  nothing  but  ropy  water  that  wasnoi.some  to  the  smell. 

That,  the  petitioners  had  been  denied  all  manner  of  sni)plies  for 
their  ve.s.sels,  though  never  so  absolutely  necessary.  That,  if  peti- 
tioners had  leave  to  sail  directly  for  Ivngland  it  would  be  some  con- 
siderable time  before  they  could  he  dispatched  from  thence. 

That,  as  the  petitioners'  return  to  New  England  would  at  best  be 
very  late  in  the  year,  and  their  voyage  by  consequence  very  cold, 
comfortless,  and  dangerous,  every  day  was  very  valuable  to  thein; 
and  besides,  that  their  being  detained  so  lor..:;  was  very  expensive. 

The  petitioners  therefore  prayed,  that  his  lionor  would  take  the 
premises  and  their  unhappy  .sufferings  into  his  serious  consideration, 
and  order  such  relief,  in  regard  to  their  provi.sion,  necessaries  for 
their  vessels,  and  their  speedy  dispatch,  as  to  his  honor  would  seem 
most  meet.  Instead,  however,  of  meeting  with  anj-  favor  or  indul- 
gence, by  virtue  of  the  above  petition,  all  the  cartels  were  ordered 
to  unbend  their  sails;  their  .sails  were  carried  on  .shore  into  th'::  gar- 
risons, and  the  guards  directed  to  .shoot  every  Hngli.shmau,  that 
attempted  to  go  on  shore,  without  asking  any  questions  whatsoever. 
I  am,  sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 

JAMES  GIBSON. 


■sRppmm  AIM  i<:!i.«MM 


3* 

The  news  of  this  victory  arrived  at  nostoii  on  the  tliird  of  July. 
The  effects  it  pruihiced  arc  well  described  in  a  letter  from  Dr. 
Chancy  to  (jcn.  repi-crvU.  lie  says  :  "The  ])coi)lo  of  I'.oston  lic- 
fore  .snnrise  were  as  thick  in  the  streets  as  on  cleclinn  day,  and  a 
pleasing  joy  visihly  sat  on  every  conntenanee."  "\S'c  had  lastnijjht 
the  fuiest  ilhnninatiun  I  ever  witnessed.  There  was  not  a  house  iii 
town,  in  by-way,  laiic,  or  alley,  but  joy  nr!;;ht  be  seen  in  its  windows. 
'iMie  night  was  also  made  joviul  by  bonlires,  fireworks,  and  other 
tokens  of  rejoicinj;.  liesidcs  this,  an  entertainment  v,-asf,'iven  to  the 
pcoi^'o.  The  iSth  of  July  was  observed  through  the  Coinnionwealth 
as  a  day  of  Than'-.sgiving  for  this  event;  and  it  was  nnivcrsally  ob- 
served in  a  manner  beeoininy  a  people  who  .saw  in  it  the  hand  of 
an  overruling  Providence." 

Dr.  Prince  preached  a  sermon  on  that  occasion  at  the  "Old  South 
Church,"  which  exhibits  more  freely  than  any  othur  the  religions 
U.'i'ling  of  those  engaged  in  it.  "When  the>-  euibarked,"  he  tells. 
us,  "their  language  to  their  friends  whom  they  were  about  leaving 
was:     Trayjt'r  iiir,  and  7c'i-  ik'HI ji;:,ht for yoii  /'  " 

After  narrating  the  most  remarkable  events  in  the  enteriirise,  he 
concludes  in  this  somewhat  extravagant  language  :  "J,ct  us  not 
oidy  rejoice  in  our  own  salvatitm,  but  let  our  joy  rise  higher,  that 
hereby  a  great  su])port  of  anti-ehristian  power  is  taken  away,  and 
the  visible  kingdom  of  Christ  enlarged.  Methinks  when  the 
southern  gates  of  L(niisburg  were  opened,  and  our  armv  with  their 
banners  were  marching  in,  the  gates  were  lifted  up,  and  the  King 
of  Glory  went  in  with  them." 

On  returning  from  Boston,  James  Gibson  was  joyfully  received 
by  his  little  family,  and  the  citizens  generally,  to  whom  he  had  ren- 
dered .so  important  services.  At  the  close  of  the  .seige,  the  treasury 
of  the  province  of  Massachusetts  was  completely  exhausted.  Eng- 
land, on  hearing  of  the  .service  r-^ndercd  by  the  colonies,  sent  on  a 
ship  laden  with  specie  to  reimlnirse  the  expenses  of  the  siege.  The 
rate  of  indcnmities  w.as  thus  expressed  in  a  resolution  passed  iu 
Parliament,  April  i,  1748: 

Resolved,  1st.  That  it  is  just  and  reasonable  that  the  several  prov- 
inces and  colonies  of  ]\Iassachu.setts  Bay,  New  Hampshire,  Con- 
necticut, and  Rhode  l.sland,  be  reimbursed  the  exjjenses  they  have 
been  at,  in  taking  and  securing  to  the  crown  of  Great  Britain,  the 
island  of  Cape  Breton  and  its  dependencies ;  therefore,  resolved  to 
grant  for  this  purpose — 

2d.  To  the  Province  of  Mas.^achusetts  Bay,  ,-/Ji33,649.   2s.  y^jd. 

3d.  To  that  of  New  Hampshire  /?i6,355.  13s.  4d. 

4th.  To  that  of  Connecticut,  ^^28,863.   19s.   id. 

5th.  To  that  of  Rhode  Island   ^^6,332.   12s.   lod. 

6th.  To  James  Gibson,  Esq.  ,  on  ditto  account,  ^{^548.   15s. 


>  third  of  July. 
IkT  tVoiii  I  Jr. 
i)i'  r»().st()ii  1)0- 
ii)ii  (lay,  and  a 
:  lui(i  last  nij^lit 
not  a  house:  iix 
11  lis  wiii'lo'.vs. 
ks,  iuul  oilier 
asyivcu  to  the 
'omiiionwefillh 
iiivcrsally  ob- 
t  Ihu    hand    of 

le  "Old  South 

r  the  iel!j.;i()ns 

<Ld,"  he   tells 

aliout  leaving 

enterprise,  lie 
"],et  us  not 
e  higher,  that 
en  away,  and 
ks  when  the 
miv  with  their 

and  tlie  King 

•fully  received 
Din  lie  had  rcn- 
;e,  the  treasury 
laustcd.  Eng- 
lies,  sent  on  a 
he  siege.  Tlie 
tiou  i)assed  in 

e  several  prov- 
iinpshire,  Con- 
iises  they  have 
at  Britain,  the 
)rc,  resolved  to 

,649.  2S.  -jy^d. 


^548-  15s. 


JThr  3amrs  6il)Son  Cont  of  ^rms. 


(REDlCIiD  ONE-IIAM'.) 


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APPENDIX. 


TIIK  JAMKS  GinSON  COAT  OK  ARMS. 


The  original,  Itcaiilifiilly  drawn  and  colored,  on  parcluncnt,  of 
evident  antiquity,  lunig  on  the  wall  of  the  log  house  in  which  I  was 
born,  in  the  wilderness  of  Oakland  County,  Michigan,  ivum  ."^6  to 
about  the  year  iSfJo. 

My  father,  James  Ciibson  Johnson,  was  then  the  only  descendant 
of  Captain  James  Oibson,  wlio  bore  the  name. 

Kev.  James  Gibson  Johnson,  D,  D.,  of  Chicago,  sou  of  Lorenzo 
Dow  Johnson,  has  the  Coat  of  Arms  at  present. 

Dr.  James  Gibson  Johnson,  druggist,  of  Traverse  City,  Michigan, 
son  of  my  brother  John  Reed  John.son,  of  same  i)lace,  and  James 
Gib.sou  John.son,  infant  son  of  Jo.seph  Quick  Joimson,  of  Detroit, 
Michigan,  are  the  only  descendaiits  of  that  name  now  living. 

The  last  mentioned  :3  the  graud.son  of  my  father. 

The  following  description  is  on  the  back  of  the  board  on  which 
the  Coat  of  Arms  is  fastened  : 

"The  Ancient  and  Honorable  family  of  Gibson  :  77t/rf  llumircd 
Years. 

"Azure,  three  .storks  rising  on  the  wing.  Argent  beaked  and 
lege'd  gules,  the  tip  of  the  wings  sable. 

CREST. 

"Out  of  a  Ducal  Coronet,  or  Lyons  Claw,  gules  holding  an  engine 
of  war,  called  a  Holy  Water  Sprinkler ;  zone  spiked  and  tipped 
argent. 

MOTTO. 

"Courage.     Virture.     Charity." 


r 


34 


THE  FAMILY  IN  THK  UNITED  STATES. 

James  Gibson,  as  stated  on  page  4,  had  hut  one  child,  a  daughter, 
named  Mary  Duesbury.  The  date  of  her  birth  is  given  in  the  New- 
England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register  as  Dec.  7,  1737. 
Her  mother  died  Nov.  13,  1752,  as  we  learn  from  the  records  of 
the  Old  King  Chapel,  where  she  was  a  member.  Her  father  died 
at  .sea  only  a  .short  time  before.  After  the  death  of  her  parents 
Mary  was  placed  in  the  family  of  Rev.  Sanuiel  Niles,  who  was  born 
in  Rhode  Lsland  in  1673  ;  graduated  from  Harvard  1711  ;  preached 
over  50  years,  and  died  in  Braintree  in  1762. 

In  order  to  enable  the  descendants  of  Jpmes  Gibson  to  keep  a 
record  of  their  ancestry  more  fully  I  append  the  following : 

His  only  child,  Mary  Duesbury,  married  Nehemiah  Blanchard,  of 
Braintree,  Mass.,  al)out  the  year  1757  or  1758.  He  was  born  there 
Feb.  10,  1736.  vSon  of  Nathaniel  Blanchard  (of  Al)ington  and 
Braintree,)  and  Hannah  Thayer,  daughter  of  Ephraim  Thayer. 
He  v.-as  born  May  19,  1701;  she  was  born  Jan.  13,  1698.  They 
were  married  April  14,  1724.  They  were  descendants  of  Samuel 
Ba.ss,  who  came  from  England  to  Roxbury  in  1630,  to  Braintree 
in  1640;  of  Thomas  Blanchard,  who  came  to  Charlestown  in  1639, 
with  four  .sons,  and  settled  there,  his  immediate  descendants  .set- 
tling in  u  few  years  in  Weymouth,  Abington  and  Braintree  ;  of 
Thomas  and  Margery  Thayer,  who  came,  in  1640,  with  three 
children  ;  and  of  John  Alden  and  Priscilla  Mullins,  of  Mayflower 
fame. 

The  desendants  of  Capt.  James  Gibson,  can  find  complete  genea- 
logical histories  of  their  ancestors  in  the  memorial  histories  of  the 
Alden,  the  Thayer,  the  Blanchard  and  Bass  families,  and  in  the  his- 
tories of  the  towns  of  Roxbury,  Quincy  (Old  Braintree),  Abington 
and  We} month.  Also  in  Wimsor's  Memonal  History  of  Boston, 
and  in  the  New  England  Genealogical  and  Historical  Register. 

It  is  also  traced  from  Nehemiah  Blanchard  back  to  the  above 
mentioned  Emigrant  Ancestors  in  Vol.  8,  American  Ancestry,  pub- 
lished by  Joel  Munsell's  Sons,  Albany,  N.  Y.     Pages  88  and  95. 

The  line  of  descent  from  Nehemiah  Blanchard  and  Mary  Dues- 
bury Gibson  to  the  writer  is  as  follows  : 

Their  daughter,  Thomazin  Blanchard,  born  in  Braintree,  Sept. 
29,  1765,  was  married  to  Jeremiah  John.son  (also  born  in  Braintree 
in  1763)  about  1786,  in  Charlestown,  New  Hamp.shire,  where  he 


i  Ji. 


35 


.TES. 

ild,  a  daughter, 
,'en  in  the  New 
Dec.  7,  1737. 
1  the  records  of 
er  father  died 
of  her  parents 
,  who  was  born 
711  ;  preached 

)Son  to  keep  a 
owing : 

1  Blanchard,  of 
was  born  there 
Al)ington  and 
hraim  Thaj'er. 
;,  169.S.  They 
uits  of  Samuel 
3,  to  Braintree 
istown  in  1639, 
ascendants  set- 
Braintree  ;  of 
.0,  with  three 
,  of  Maj'flower 


was  discharged  from  the  army  of  the  revohition  in  Jan.,  1783,  hav- 
ing enlisted  at  the  age  of  17,  in  Capt.  Moody  Dustin's  Company, 
ist  Regiment  New  Hamp.shire  line,  commanded  by  Col.  Cilley. 

They  settled  in  the  town  of  Weathersfield,  near  tne  village  of 
Reading,  where,  after  raising  a  family  of  children,  both  died,  she 
at  the  age  of  63,  and  he  at  the  age  of  83. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  18 12  he  enlisted  at  the  age  of 
49,  in  Jan.,  1S13,  in  Capt  Marston's  Company,  2i.st  Regimejit  U.S. 
Infantry,  and  served  until  Oct.  5,  1814,  when  he  was  discharged  at 
Fort  Erie,  Canada,  on  surgeon's  certificate  of  di.sability. 

His  son-in-law,  Robert  White,  lost  both  arms  b\'  a  cannon  shot  at 
the  battle  of  Fort  Erie,  Canada,  not  far  from  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  in 
August,  1 8 14. 

His  family  consisted  of  the  following  : 

Mary,  who  married  Robert  White,  and  settled  in  Ohio,  and  later 
in  Bureau  Co.,  111. 

Sarah,  who  married  Bemiss,  and  settled  in  Ontario  Co., 

New  York,  where  she  died  soon  after. 

James  Gibson,  born  Sept.  29,  1799,  and  settled  in  Michigan. 

Thoma^jin,  who  married  Calvin  Grandy,  and  settled  in  Vermont. 

Lorenzo  Dow,  born  Aug.  21,  1S05,  and  settled  in  Mass. 

Susan,  who  married  Linas  Thayer,  and  settled  in  Ohio. 

Thomas,  the  youngest,  vvho  also  settled  in  Ohio. 


3mplete  genea- 
listories  of  the 
and  in  the  his- 
ree),  Abington 
3ry  of  Boston, 
,  Register. 
to  the  above 
Ancestry,  pub- 
s  88  and  95. 
id  Mary  Dues- 


raintree,  Sept. 
rn  in  Braintree 
ire,  where  he 


